Guyana Times - Friday, April 5, 2019

FAO Assistant Director General P14 updated on Land Management Project Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3885

FRIday, april 5, 2019

PRICE

Region 1 outbreak

Another Chinese miner dies …1 more admitted for respiratory tract infection

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Duo charged for robbing traffic rank P8

Page 3

Aurora Gold Mine ready for underground exploration Rose Hall sugar workers protest harsh working conditions Page 15

Page 7

…GuySuCo threatens to suspend striking staff Sugar workers downed tools and held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in response to the harsh working conditions

High Court finds sufficient evidence to extradite Troy Thomas to US Page 9

21lbs cocaine, 101lbs ganja unearthed in Lethem

Page 11

20.8% increase in fatal accidents so far this year – Police Page 12

Linden, P2 Berbice identified as major ganja planting hubs

West Watooka farmers P14 affected by ‘dry spell’

Minister P10 Lawrence greeted with protests at Port Mourant

Fly Jamaica employees P2 fuming over owed salaries

2 NEWS

FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden, Berbice identified as major ganja planting hubs

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here have been several major cannabis busts and interceptions of individuals transporting the illicit substance from Berbice in Region Six and Linden in Region 10, and this is because this illicit substance is largely cultivated in those areas.

This is according to Head of the Police Narcotics Branch, Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon, who told Guyana Times on Thursday that the reality of the situation is that the leading regions for cannabis cultivation have been identified as Linden in Region 10 and the Berbice River locations in Region Six. Simon said that, in the past four months, the Police Narcotics Branch has already completed in excess of 15 eradication exercises in Berbice, and these were done in more than 30 fields where marijuana was being cultivated and harvested.

“Since the year started, (the) total eradication exercises totalled in excess of

Head of the Police Narcotics Branch, Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon

50 acres of land that cannabis was grown (on). Most of the lands were state-owned, while some were areas with squatters; squatting areas basically…”

According to the Senior Superintendent, a lot of work has been done by ranks during the first quarter of 2019, in comparison to what was completed for the entirety of last year.

“Last year we had 15 eradication exercises, and of course seizures, but we

have upped the ante in this fight. We recognise that the demand for this substance has to be limited, and the main way to do this is to cut off the source of supply. We are being proactive rather than reactive, where instead of seizures we are targeting cutting off the sources.”

Meanwhile, in relation to the recent arrests of Berbicians who were nabbed in minibuses with cannabis in their possession, Guyana Times was told that those persons were en route to Georgetown with the illicit substance in their possession most likely to supply persons or a market there.

However, investigations into those matters are still ongoing, but the reality of those situations is that the cannabis was obtained from Berbice, Mr. Simon added.

On Wednesday, Police in “B” Division finally managed to intercept a Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice resident who was wanted in connection with the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the Police, a team of ranks, upon information received, swooped down on the suspect’s home at around 11:15h on the day of his arrest. A search conducted on the premises unearthed sixteen taped parcels of compressed cannabis.

When weighed, the illegal drugs amounted to 27.2 kilograms. As such, the 27-yearold was arrested.

In another case, a young man was taken into custody after he was caught with a quantity of cannabis in his possession while travelling in public transportation.

The 24-year-old suspect, of New Amsterdam, Berbice, was a passenger in a minibus on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) when the vehicle was stopped by Police.

Reports are that at about 15:00h on Friday, Police ranks stopped the minibus on the Vigilance Public Road, ECD, but as they looked at the passengers, the young man appeared nervous. This resulted in his belongings being searched and the drugs being unearthed.

The Berbician was taken into custody. The cannabis weighed 1945.5 grams.

In February, a duo was also intercepted by Police ranks with a quantity of cannabis in a minibus.

The passengers were en route to Georgetown from Berbice when the minibus in which they were travelling was stopped at Weldaad Police Station, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Based on a tipoff, the two passengers were searched, during which 1986 grams of the illegal substance was unearthed.

On January 15, anoth-

er passenger was nabbed by ranks with some 3283 grams of cannabis concealed in seven taped parcels on the Weldaad Public Road, WCB. The suspect, a 28-yearold of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was intercepted at about 14:10h while en route to Georgetown.

This publication understands that, acting on information, the ranks stopped the vehicle in which he was traversing and searched him when the discovery was made. (Kristen Macklingam)

Fly Jamaica employees fuming over owed salaries

…passengers yet to be refunded

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romises by Fly Jamaica Airlines to disburse compensation to its employees are yet to materialize, and many of these staffers are questioning the company’s allegiance towards providing these payments.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Paul Ronald Reece stated in a letter to employees on Friday, March 29, 2019 that their services were redundant as of March 31, 2019.

According to him, the company was hoping to secure funding, but that acquisition process has been slow. Reece nevertheless assured employees that the compensation they are owed from November to date will be provided.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Friday, one of the former employees said he is owed his monthly salary for January, 2019 and other sums for overtime work carried out during 2018.

However, other employees have not been paid for several months, and there has been no definite answer on when these remunerations will be disbursed.

“We didn’t get paid the overtime for November. We didn’t get paid for December, January, February or March. I worked January, so I need my overtime; and I didn’t get paid for January as yet,” the employee stated.

He said this prolonged waiting period raises concerns among many former employees regarding when they will be paid. Guyana Times understands that the company had some 400 employees on its payroll.

Fly Jamaica’s operations took a downward spiral after the November 9, 2018 crash-landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which saw an 85-year-old passenger succumbing one week later.

Turn to page 8

news

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, April 5 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, April 6 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

2nd Chinese miner dies from leptospirosis – another admitted for respiratory tract infection

Friday, April 5 – 16:50h-18:20h and Saturday, April 6 – 17:10h-18:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny intervals are expected throughout the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

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nother Chinese miner died on Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), while several others who were brought out from the manganese operation site (GMI) at Matthews Ridge remain patients at that medical institution.

On Thursday, when Guyana Times visited the surgical bloc, it was observed that the miners were being kept in an isolated area that was cordoned off. A doctor was at the time administer-

The Chinese nationals on Monday being transported to Georgetown from Matthews Ridge

High Tide: 16:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.72 metres.

Low Tide: 10:32h and 22:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.52 metre respectively.

WEDNESday, APRIL 3, 2019

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The isolated area at GPHC

ing checks on the patients; however, he was not allowed to offer any updates on the miners’ condition.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry, in a statement on Thursday, confirmed the death of the second miner, while stating, “We are saddened at the passing of another worker.”

This miner died from complications associated with leptospirosis on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at the GPHC, the statement added.

Another mining employee, who was also tested positive for leptospirosis, is in “critical but stable condition,” an Internal Medicine Specialist at the tertiary institution confirmed on Thursday.

Government’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, in the statement, highlighted that while two of those patients were successfully treated and discharged from GPHC, Regional Health Officer Dr Ramjas has updated the MoPH that another GMI employee has been admitted at the Pakera Hospital, and is undergoing treatment for a respiratory tract infection. This patient is said to be in a stable condition.

Dr Shamdeo Persaud has iterated that all precautionary measures are still in

place at the Matthews Ridge tunnel site and its immediate surroundings, and he said essential medical supplies are in stock to treat employees of the mining firm

and residents of the area.

‘Since last week’s outbreak, the area has been deemed a ‘Red Zone’ by Ministry of Public Health authorities, and “no one is allowed to enter the site,” Dr Persaud reminded on Thursday.

The CMO has also stated that the hospital is continuing its evaluation of the miners, and additional tests are being done by CARPHA to obtain a diagnosis for some of the patients who were not tested positive for Leptospirosis.

Reports are that a post mortem examination conducted on the 2 miners -named Zhong Zhenglong, 47, and Zi Zheng Guo, also 47 -- on Thursday morning revealed that they died from haemorrhagic pneumonia as a result of leptospirosis. The more than one dozen affected miners exhibited symptoms of pain, fever, headache and respiratory distress.

The Matthews Ridge Hospital, which was shut down earlier this week for sanitisation, has resumed

operations even as a medical team continues to assess the other miners who were working in the mining tunnel where the workers fell ill.

Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, when approached by the media for a comment on the diagnosis of the other ill Chinese workers, subject Minister Volda Lawrence refused to comment on the issue. However, she did confirm on Tuesday that several tests were done on the miners, and samples were sent to the Caribbean Reference Lab in St Vincent and the Grenadines for further evaluation.

During the interview on Tuesday, Lawrence noted that there were no reports of any new cases at health centres in any neighbouring villages.

The manganese mining company has been instructed to halt further exploration until the Public Health Ministry and a team from the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the Social Protection Ministry advise further on the matter.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, april 5, 2019

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

“One death is one too many”

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cting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, DSM, on Thursday met with the heads of the traffic departments countrywide, as part of their quarterly review, where he announced that there has been a 20.8 per cent increase in road accidents in 2019. He also highlighted the importance of monitoring and evaluation of the Traffic Department.

The meeting comes on the heels of another deadly accident with the country’s roads claiming the lives of two young people in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). The couple, Sheshyka Ettienne, 21, and O’neil DeYounge, 24, were killed on Monday evening about 20:30h in a collision along the Amelia’s Ward Public Road and Toucan Drive in Linden.

Hoppie also implored that “one death is one too many”, pointing out that there is also a 19.2 per cent increase in deaths resulting from fatal accidents for the period of January 1 to April 3, 2019.

The two most recent deaths are in addition to the dozens of persons who lost their lives owing to some form of recklessness by drivers, or in some cases carelessness by pedestrians themselves.

We are indeed convinced that the efforts being made by law enforcement and other authorities to reduce the alarming rate of road accidents are not achieving the desired results. 2017 will go down as yet another year when Guyana experienced some of the most horrific road accidents resulting in the loss of lives and injuries to countless others. We are very much concerned about the number of persons losing their lives on our roadways. Too many families have been broken as a result of losing a loved one due to road accidents, most of which could have been avoided.

The reasons for the high rates of road accidents are wellknown and there is no need to rehash them here except to say that while there are various factors which impact on road safety, there is little doubt that the single most important one in a general sense is enforcement of the traffic laws. The Government has enacted the relevant legislation in relation to driving under the influence, loud music in vehicles, overloading, speeding, etc, but if the laws are not adequately implemented, they become useless. It would be interesting to find out how many of the drivers/conductors who are stopped for breaking traffic laws are actually charged and brought before the Courts.

It should also be mentioned here that in some cases, Police Officers themselves are engaged in breaking the traffic rules; eg by speeding or driving under the influence and, hence, are the source of some of the accidents we currently experience.

While it is not our intention to paint the entire Police Force with the same brush, as there are many professional and honest officers within the Force, we are convinced that unless what is perceived as the endemic corruption in the organisation, and the traffic section in particular, is addressed in a systematic way, we will not achieve the desired results.

Further, in addition to enforcement of the traffic laws, there are several actions which could be taken immediately to reduce the number of road accidents here. To begin with, the authorities should start fixing all the potholes on our streets and highways which no doubt pose a serious threat to people’s lives.

Additionally, the authorities should immediately start clearing the parapets and roadways of all encumbrances such as old, abandoned vehicles, tractor trailers, carts, etc, as these have been known to contribute to accidents. At the same time, tougher action should be taken against persons who are bent on encumbering the roadways.

We had also made the point before that Guyanese need to move away from the culture of disregard and irresponsibility in relation to using the roadways. The Education Ministry and other relevant stakeholders should examine the possibility of strengthening the school’s curriculum with the aim of increasing knowledge, skills and understanding among children and young people about the responsible use of our roadways. Similar efforts should also be made targeting the adult population as they too are sometimes found to be irresponsible when using our roadways.

There seems to be no effective leadership, both from a political as well as an administrative/technical standpoint to confront the challenge. We believe the time has come for all stakeholders to return to the drawing board and re-examine their approach to road accidents since what currently obtains has failed the nation.

For a small country such as ours, we cannot afford to continue along this path. The number of deaths and disabilities as a result of road accidents is indeed very worrying and something must be done urgently to bring a halt to the level of irresponsibility and recklessness on our roadways.

The third International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage along the Silk Road opened in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province. A total of 124 delegates from 85 countries along the Belt and Road attended the opening ceremony, where a new media art exhibition titled “The Original Changsha” made its debut. In photo, dancers perform the Hunan folk dance

Venezuelans struggle to find water in the aftermath of blackouts

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eeks of power cuts in Venezuela have further crippled an already fragile infrastructure, creating widespread water shortages hampering basic services.

Power has been restored in many areas, but it is being rationed, and without electricity to run pumps there is not enough water in many areas.

“Imagine the scenario of a hospital without water, without power. We remain without a water supply. Even though the power has been restored, the water is still an issue,” said Paediatrician Vietnam Veras Rivas at Caracas’ Children’s Hospital.

“The first blackout hit on March 7, and until a week ago, I was working in this hospital with no water whatsoever,” Rivas told Al Jazeera.

During the first outage, one of his patients was a 10-day-old baby in an incubator in intensive care. He recalls transporting the child through the dark hospital, “while manually supplying him oxygen with some reanimation bags”, he said.

“After 24 hours with intermittent power, the patient started decompressing and 48 hours later, he died.”

The baby had problems when he was born, but the blackout complicated things further, the doctor explained.

The hospital was already suffering a chronic shortage of supplies and equipment and the water problems made maintaining sanitary conditions “impossible”, he said.

“We would wash our hands only when possible, we tried to not drink much water to avoid clogging the toilets.”

“Very stressful situation”

In the corridors of a poorly lit building in the capital city, people are visibly tired of the debate on how to build wells that could make it easier to get water.

They heatedly discuss the price of fixing a lift damaged by power outages, and share complaints about increasingly infrequent showers, unwashed dishes and stinking toilets.

Water shortages are not new

Lack of water is one of the worst side effects of power outages that have gone on for weeks

in Venezuela, but it has never been like this.

“Since 2014 we’ve been having issues with the water supply, but now it’s way worse, especially after the blackouts, we can spend 15 days without supply,” Yoana De Oliveira, 30, told Al Jazeera.

“It’s a very stressful situation, sometimes I want to shower, or wash my hair, and doing so with a bucket is not the way to go.”

For big families, the situation is even more complicated.

“I have a family of five, and I really need water to always be available,” said Carlos Rincon, a 42-year-old driver, said.

“I’ve spent 10 continuous days without water. We’ve had to go shower in other places …

I also have kids that don’t go to school, thus, water consumption is higher.”

“Hygiene is also an issue, as you cannot flush the toilets constantly, the kitchen is a mess, bad odours permeate the place where the trash door is, it’s unbelievable,” Rincon explained.

The first power outages hit Venezuela between March 7 and 14 and another blackout started on the evening of March 29, paralysing most of the country.

The continuous power outages followed the US ban in January on any purchases of Venezuelan oil.

President Nicolás Maduro has blamed the blackouts on US-backed sabotage.

“Venezuela is living the first unconventional war, which seeks to impose itself with attacks to public services by the US to overthrow a democratic government,” Maduro said on Wednesday night.

“We have to be prepared and continue in resistance to

this war that Donald Trump decided to declare against the Venezuelan people,” he added.

But Luis Vincente Leon, from Datanalisis, a think-tank that focuses on Venezuela’s economy, said the power problems are the Government’s fault.

“The [power] grid collapsed due to lack of investment and corruption, a situation that the own government has denounced in the past,” Leon told Al Jazeera.

He said the outages were not a result of US sanctions, but that the ability of the country to respond “was indeed affected by the sanctions and the isolation that the US has imposed”.

“What is happening in Venezuela is equivalent to an earthquake, and where is international aid for this earthquake? It isn’t here, because in the end, what is being sought with this international pressure is to collapse the government, to get it out, to generate a social uprising,” he added.

“Traitors in the country”

The power failures and water shortages have accompanied a power struggle between Maduro and Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó.

Guaidó has been recognised by the United States and 50 other Western nations as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Tensions further escalated when the Constituent Assembly voted on Tuesday to strip Guaidó of the legal protections he has as a member of Venezuela’s Oppositioncontrolled Parliament.

“For me, this [action] is [still not enough],” said Constituent member Maria Leon.

“How are traitors treated in the country? They do not de-

serve to be called Venezuelans,” the former Minister said.

Assembly Vice President Tania Diaz said its members were seeking justice.

“The people demand justice and we are acting within the framework of justice,” she explained while affirming that the all-powerful assembly was elected to guarantee peace and legality in her country.

Guaidó said he did not recognise decisions that came from the current government.

“You know how the regime behaves – this is not just persecution any more, this is an inquisition,” Guaidó said.

This decree is a necessary step for the Supreme Court to be able to try Guaidó.

Guaidó asked supporters to respond to Maduro’s “brute force”, and called for more street protests.

The US has continuously backed the Opposition Leader.

“The only thing preventing Venezuela from the road to economic reconstruction and prosperity is Maduro’s corruption, incompetence, and usurpation,” John Bolton, National Security Adviser of the United States wrote, on Twitter on Thursday.

“The US supports Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan people on their journey to democracy.”

On Tuesday night, Republican Senator Rick Scott also wrote: “The US will not stand idly by if anything happens to Guaidó or his family.”

But not everyone believes US backing benefits the country.

“The Opposition’s theme is that Maduro leaves, but it has not done anything that convinces me, it feels like a push and shove,” businesswoman Yanira la Cruz told Al Jazeera. (Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, april 5, 2019

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Is the “Rule of Law” in Guyana descending into an abyss – like that of Venezuela?

Dear Editor, Rule of Law is a key pillar of a democracy. Interrupting the fair and judicial application of the rule of law amounts to a loss of democracy and capitalism. Guyana is now under direct threat of this phenomenon. First were the actions of GECOM in ignoring the Constitution and failing to prepare for elections in 90 days. Second was the Appeal Court ruling on the no-confidence motion (NCM).

Combined with many other glaring examples of Government influence and control over various “independent” bodies that comprise the agencies of implementing “rule of law,” it is easy to conclude that there is a creeping dictatorship that is circling the land of Guyana.

Twenty years ago, Venezuela began to see similar signs. But quickly, a gathering momentum of abuse propelled Venezuela to where it is today. And, of course, Guyana’s history of dictatorship and rigged elections, until the Carter intervention in the 1992 elections, has left an indelible scar on Guyana. Will Guyana descend [back] into the abyss?

Any reasonable man will tell you that the arithmetic used by the Court of Appeal is unprecedented, and is not grounded in our Constitution. Refer to legal minds such as former Chancellor

Kennard, or former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and the many other pundits who comment on these matters. And of course it differs from the Chief Justice’s legal reasoning. But one nevertheless demurs to respecting the Court of Appeal’s decision pending the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Any reasonable man will tell you that GECOM is clearly ignoring the NCM and Constitution by insisting on house-to-house registration rather than convening elections. In polite terms, both the Court of Appeal Justices and GECOM seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet as the Government.

Like SOCU, and many of our institutions, APNU Government policy and direction appear to be taking precedence over “rule of law” and the “independence” of the many statutory bodies set up to protect our democracy by providing the checks and balances against Government. One can readily call it the “creeping dictatorship”. Of course, one can also argue differently, depending on which side you are on. All are involved!

The Tuesday (April 2nd) resignations of 4 senior APNU/AFC ministers and Parliamentarians, supposedly to follow the court ruling, is not simply APNU complying with the law. The reversal or

restatement the next day reflects the flip-flop nature of APNU and their frequent duplicity on important matters. The man in the street is not stupid! It is widely expected that APNU will re-open the dual citizenship at the CCJ and argue that Charrandas’s vote was invalid. And that notwithstanding the validity of any proceeding of the National Assembly (like the NCM vote), the issue of eligibility to vote, if settled, will invalidate the NCM by rendering a less than 33 vote of the elected members. This is notwithstanding the fact that both the Chief Justice and the Court of Appeal treated this issue as “settled law,” and that Charrandas’s vote is validly part of the 65 votes.

If this route were to follow, one can allege a conspiracy between the CCJ and the Government of Guyana.

The CCJ is now in the crosshairs of all, including the ABC countries. The fact that Trinidad and Jamaica, the two largest CARICOM countries by economy and population, are not part of the CCJ, but remain bound to the UK Privy Council, already illustrates the majority perception of CARICOM nationals of the CCJ. Just May 2018, less than one year ago, then Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, declared that if his party won the

general elections in Barbados, Barbados would withdraw from the CCJ. He lost his elections, thus averting a Barbados withdrawal.

But there is a growing perception that the CCJ, the highest court of CARICOM for Barbados and Guyana and a few smaller countries, lacks independence.

To make matters worse, the CCJ appointment committee (the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission) includes one of the Guyana Court of Appeal judges -- acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette CummingsEdwards, one of the two judges who ruled in favour of the Government on the NCM. In addition, the Guyana APNU Government attorney who argued the NCM mathematics, Dr. Francis Alexis, is another member of this appointment committee. And their colleague on the same committee is none other than the Chairman of the CCJ, who will hear the NCM case, Justice Adrian Suanders. One can clearly argue conflict and lack of independence.

One therefore expects that this landmark decision that is expected in May and will determine the legality or illegality of the APNUAFC Government will very likely determine if Guyana stays in the CCJ (assuming a PPP Government at the next election) and joins

the growing list of important CARICOM countries not part of the CCJ, or those (like Barbados) looking to exit.

The US, UK, Canada, and EU are all observing. Rule of Law is one of the vital ingredients of a democracy. With the oil wealth Guyana is about to be part of, Guyana’s brightest days are expected to be on the horizon in the next decade. GECOM Executive, its APNU Board members and Chairman (the subject of another CCJ case), along with Court of Appeal and CCJ judges, can all expect to be under the microscope if decisions appear to be ignoring law and more reflective of rendering political decisions. With GECOM, it is easy to argue the complicity of the GECOM Executive and their failure to prepare for elections.

The ethnicity argument has also gained some currency, with the recent ruling of the Ethnic Relations Committee over the failure to rehire the former DCEO (since he was the most qualified), but who happened to be of a different ethnicity. With the judiciary, the arguments are not as straightforward. But the suspicion is clearly perceived. The world is watching and waiting.

Sincerely, A Grant

APNU/AFC trapped in the tangled web they wove

Dear Editor, There is no need for any MP to resign; they were formally resigned since January 31st, when the Chief Justice ruled that persons with dual citizenship were sitting unconstitutionally in Parliament, and henceforth could not legally continue as MPs. Given the ruling, the Speaker would not have been able to recognise any dual citizen sitting in Parliament. At the time, we knew at least four APNU/AFC MPs and senior ministers, and at least three PPP MPs, including its Whip, were dual citizens. They ceased to be MPs from the day of the ruling.

At any sitting after that, the Speaker would have been obliged not to recognise them as legally present in the National Assembly.

Whether any of these seven, or additional ones who had not declared their dual citizenship status, had formally, in writing, resigned their parliamentary seats is irrelevant. This was no voluntary, routine resignation. Their immediate resignation as of January 31st was automatic, forced by the law. The insistence

by APNU/AFC and David Granger that certain constitutional procedures must follow only applies to a voluntary resignation.

The egregious acts that followed the January 31st rulings by the Chief Justice were therefore the continued brazen, illegal occupation of the ministerial positions, the insistence they would not resign, and the announcement that all

APNU+AFC dual citizens would attend the National Assembly on April 11, the date APNU/AFC vulgarly set as the day for resumption of Parliament.

Now we have the comedy of the President insisting he has received the resignation of the ministers, but he has to await the resignation in writing to the Speaker.

Resignation letters to the President or Leader of the Opposition are definitely not necessary. The necessary next step now is for the Head of the Candidate Lists to inform the Speaker that seats in Parliament occupied by those seven (four APNU/AFC and three PPP) and, maybe others -- since there exists information that two others in APNU+AFC are dual citizens -- are now vacant, and that replacement candidates would be named. Lacking this action, the Speaker is obligated to declare those seats vacant based on the judicial rulings, whether the heads of the candidate lists inform him or not. The Speaker has been informed by the court.

The initial prolonged insistence from APNU+AFC that none of their dual citizens will resign as MPs and as ministers was egregious and contemptuous of the court. Their excuse that the matter is under appeal was torched the day they insisted that the Court of Appeal ruling on the NCM provided them with the legitimacy to continue in Government with business as usual, even though they knew that the NCM ruling was appealed

at the CCJ. They finally acceded to the court’s ruling only because they could not survive the public shaming and condemnation of their hypocrisy -- using an appeal to delay compliance with the court ruling on dual citizens, but proceeding with the split-decision, controversial, shocking NCM ruling, while ignoring that the NCM ruling was appealed.

Outside of succumbing to the public shaming, condemnation and pressure from the PPP and the public, APNU/AFC, having shamelessly set a date for a parliamentary sitting on April 11, must have been informed by the Speaker that he was obligated to disavow the presence of all dual citizens in Parliament and rule their presence illegal and a contempt of court. The truth is that they did not need to resign, but to inform the Speaker they would not return to Parliament as they had announced previously.

The unrelenting shaming from all corners of the society and from international stakeholders has forced APNU/AFC in a corner, hiding and hanging their heads in shame. Yet we do not know the full truth.

While we know that Joe Harmon, an American citizen; Rupert Roopnaraine, Carl Greenidge and Dominic Gaskin, British citizens, were forced and shamed into accepting they were resigned, since they could not hide their dual citizenship status, we really do not know if those are the only ones from APNU/ AFC who are dual citizens.

Information has surfaced that at least Volda Lawrence and Winston Jordon are other APNU+AFC MPs who are dual citizens. It is a measure of the abyss of shame that APNU/AFC has operated under since May 2015 that they cannot unequivocally tell the nation if there are other dual citizens APNU/ AFC MPs in Parliament. It is dereliction of duty for the Government resisting demands to state categorically and unequivocally they have no other dual citizens as MPs and ministers. Stop playing games and make a definitive statement now.

APNU/AFC and their defenders have tried in vain to excuse their shameless behaviour by arguing the PPP also has dual citizen MPs. But the PPP, since January 31st, after the ruling of the Chief Justice, unequivocally declared no dual citizen PPP MP will ever sit in Parliament again. The PPP has gone further, stating that any future PPP list of candidates for election will not include any dual citizen.

Two PPP dual citizen MPs in the present Parliament have stated unequivocally they will renounce their citizenship of other countries, and Bharrat Jagdeo had already stated that no PPP dual citizen will sit in Parliament. There has never been any equivocation on this matter.

In desperation to find something, anything, to invalidate the December 21st no-confidence motion (NCM), APNU/AFC challenged Charrandas’s vote on the basis that he was a

dual citizen. APNU+AFC allowed themselves to become ensnared in the web of deceit that Basil Williams convinced them is their only future. They knew MPs on both sides were dual citizens, and should their dual citizenship challenge succeed, APNU/AFC would be decimated - they had more

to lose than the PPP. In their desperation for a straw to grab on to they permitted Williams to take them into a freefall. They have been caught in the tangled web they stupidly weaved.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

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friday, APRIL 5, 2019

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

5 ways to prevent stress build-up

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here’s no avoiding the stress of everyday life.

Schoolwork, responsibilities at home, busy schedules, other people’s expectations, disappointments, deadlines, social drama: all of these can create tension.

Everyday stressors have a way of piling up if we don’t keep them in check. Adding these five simple actions to your regular routine can help you avoid that “bogged down by stress” feeling. The key word is “routine.” You need to make sure you keep doing these to enjoy the benefits:

L

Why yoga for stress relief?

ife can be stressful. For starters, there’s your busy schedule – waking up super early for school, studying late at night for tests, juggling sports practice, homework, and meals. It’s a lot to balance!

Everyday issues can add emotional stress, too – regretting a disagreement with a parent, weighing an important decision, or stressing over whether you’ll make final cuts for the team. With lots on your mind, it’s easy to feel stressed.

There are many different ways to cope with stress. Talking with friends, exercising, and seeing a school counsellor are just a few.

Yoga can help reduce stress because it promotes relaxation, which is the natural opposite of stress. Yoga can benefit three aspects of ourselves that are often affected by stress: our body, mind, and breathing.

You don’t have to wait to feel stressed out to do yoga, and you shouldn’t! People who do a little bit of yoga each day often find they’re better able to handle things when life gets a little crazy.

Practising yoga builds your ability to calm, focus, balance, and relax yourself.

Balance responsibilities (like schoolwork) with activities you enjoy (like relaxing or spending time with friends)

It’s all about balance: all work and no play is bad. But if your schedule is so crammed with activities that there’s no time for homework, that’ll stress you out too.

Manage responsibilities

Use a calendar or planning app to keep track of assignments, chores, practices, and other obligations. Of course, planning is no good if you don’t actually do what you plan: Managing stress also means regular studying, keeping on top of assignments, and overcoming procrastination. Take time to reflect a bit every day and think about how things are going. What do you need to work on? Do? Make time for?

Eat healthy foods

What you eat affects your mood, energy, and stress level. Eating healthy doesn’t mean avoiding all treats – it goes back to that balance thing again. It’s OK to treat yourself to ice cream occasionally if you ate a salad or turkey on whole wheat for lunch. But if ice cream and sweets are your main

Yoga is more than just stretching

source of fuel, you’re likely to crash or feel cranky – and stressed!

watching get in the way of sleep – no matter how much we want to catch those ZZZs.

Get proper sleep

Make time to exercise every day

This may seem like a no-brainer. After all, who doesn’t love to sleep? But getting the right amount of sleep is actually something we need to focus on because it’s easy to let homework, talking to friends, or binge

It’s hard to feel anxious when you’re taking deep breaths on a run, feeling the rush of a downhill bike ride, or playing a pickup game with friends. Exercise doesn’t just take our mind

off of stress; it releases chemicals in our brains that make us feel better.

Learning to manage stress means building coping skills that allow you to take everyday challenges in stride. It’s about keeping problems in perspective instead of ignoring them, and learning what to work on and what to let go of. (kidshealth.

Lots of people think of yoga as stretching or twisting the body into various impossible-looking pretzel shapes. But yoga is easier than it looks. There are simple poses as well as complicated ones, so there’s something for every ability. Yoga requires no special equipment, so you can do it almost anywhere.

Yoga poses are good exercise and can help loosen up the tense muscles in your body. The areas of the body that tend to carry the most stress are the neck, shoulders, and back. But other parts of the body (like the face, jaw, fingers, or wrists) also can benefit from simple yoga stretches.

Yoga is so much more than just physical exercise, though. The key to getting the best out of each pose is to focus not only on your body, but also on your mind and breathing.

org)

Getting the most out of yoga

When you’re in a yoga pose, think about how you can unite your body, mind, and breathing. Even a simple pose like mountain pose is a stress reliever when you focus on keeping your breathing slow and even, and visualise yourself as firm and steady as a mountain.

Stay ‘in the moment. When we’re under stress, we’re often thinking about what we need to do in the future (“I have to cram for that test”) or what we could have done better in the past (“I wish I hadn’t said that!”). Instead of letting your thoughts wander as you do yoga, think about what your body and breath are doing in this moment. Notice how a particular muscle or area of the body feels. Focus on breathing in slowly as your body stretches tall, and breathing out slowly as you curl up.

Being in the moment like this helps you build your ability to focus and concentrate, which helps in all aspects of life.

Use your breathing when things get difficult. When a yoga pose feels challenging, imagine sending your breath to the area in your body that feels stiff or tight. Does it help? You can use this skill in the rest of your life, too. Whenever something challenges you — a tough homework problem, an argument with a parent — try to focus on your breathing. You may be surprised by how much better you deal with the situation. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org) To be continued

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rose Hall sugar workers protest harsh working conditions …demand owed severance

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ver 100 sugar workers have downed tools and held a peaceful demonstration in front of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice (Region Six, East Berbice-Corentyne) in response to the harsh working conditions meted out to them for several months.

According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the workers were transferred to the Albion Estate after the closure of the Rose Hall Estate back in 2017.

From that time onwards, se-

punts to load the sugarcane.

Consequently, it takes two days of work to achieve a daily earning.

Adding to the list of hardships, the distance travelled to reach the Albion Estate is greater, and workers would reach late to their work sites, impeding productivity. Usually, work would begin as early as 05:30h to capitalise on the favourable weather conditions, but the present situation results in them commencing at 08:30h, when the sun is scorching.

According to GAWU, the

After the protest ensued earlier this week, GUYSUCO wrote the Union to inform that disciplinary action would be taken against those participating in the picketing exercise.

GAWU responded, insisting that the workers are subject to freedom of expression, and further opened the floor for dialogue between the mediating parties.

GAWU, in a response dated April 03, 2019, pointed out to the sugar company that workers, as Guyanese, have a right of expres-

Workers protesting against harsh working conditions

Union stated.

The workers are also calling on GuySuCo to pay them their severance pay.

They have already sought legal advice from Attorneyat-Law Anil Nandlall on the matter.

“At this time, the law is being examined to see what possibilities present themselves, and the Union will be accordingly guided”, the Union has said.

Workers calling for their severance payments

rious difficulties ensued in carry out their daily functions.

During the second day of the picketing exercise, the workers held placards highlighting their plight.

They related that they were unable to earn on many days due to the insufficient

protestors claimed that the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s initial position was that they would be working in a section of the Rose Hall cultivation which was annexed to the Albion Estate. As the matter unfolded, they realised that this was not the case.

sion. “The possibility of disciplinary action could be seen as impinging on that inalienable constitutional right…The workers, during today’s (Thursday) picketing exercise, echoed similar views, and called on GuySuCo officials to engage them in frank dialogue,” the

In December 2017, some 181 workers from the Rose Hall Estate lost their jobs when the estate closed its doors. Most of those who were transferred to the Albion and Blairmont Estates were from the East Bank of Berbice.

While many await the second half of their severance pay, many of the jobless workers are finding it difficult to secure employment.

This, several workers have said, has forced them to utilise the first half of their severance to meet their expenses and obligations.

Last December, workers from the closed estates protested in front of Parliament Building during the budget debates in a bid to have their voices heard in regard to the owed severance payments.

8 News

FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Vreed-en-Hoop man robbed at knifepoint …complains of recent spate of robberies in area

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Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara man is now calling on the relevant authorities to set up surveillance in the area after he was recently attacked and robbed at knifepoint by a lone bandit.

The victim told Guyana Times that he had just exited a minibus at around 21:00h, and was walking along Kitram Street when he was attacked. The suspect, who was armed with a knife and was riding a bi-

cycle, reportedly confronted the victim from behind with a demand for cash and other valuables. Fearful for his life, the victim handed over his cellphone and a bag containing some $5000 and other articles, and the perpetrator made good his escape.

The matter was reported to the Police but no arrest was made.

According to the victim, for the past two weeks, several similar robberies have been occurring in the area,

specifically at Kitram and Papi streets and the Crane, WBD areas.

However, since being robbed, the victim is alleging that ten other persons were robbed in similar fashion, but this time by bandits on a CG motorcycle.

Reports are that two men clad in camouflage clothing are the main perpetrators of this spate of crime.

The armed men would carry out their attacks between 21:00h and 02:00h on a dai-

ly basis.

A string of break-andenter incidents have also been reported in the areas, which is presently a cause for alarm.

In light of this recent spate of robberies, the victim is calling for the matters to be properly investigated, as several times when reports are made at the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station, ranks fail to respond, citing unavailability of transportation at the time.

Duo charged for robbing traffic rank

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wo men on Thursday appeared in a Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of robbery committed on a traffic rank.

Twenty-four-year-old Yullacie Price and 19-yearold Shaheed Hollingsworth, both of Sophia, pleaded not guilty to the joint charge, which stated that on March 31 they robbed Orlando Persaud of a cellular phone valued $50,000 and $3,000

in cash.

Price, a vendor, and Hollingsworth, who is unemployed, were accused of robbing the victim, a traffic rank, along Longden Street, Georgetown.

The duo reportedly choked Persaud until he lost consciousness, before relieving him of the items and making good their escape.

The matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station and the men were arrested.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail on the grounds that the victim positively identified the perpetrators. The prosecu-

tor’s submission was upheld, and both Price and Hollingsworth were remanded to prison until April 12.

Fly Jamaica employees...

From page 2

The Boeing 757 aircraft crashed on an emergency landing less than an hour after taking off for Toronto, Canada. The aircraft had

experienced technical complications and decided to return to Guyana.

At the time, there were 118 adults, along with two infants and an eight-member crew onboard.

This publication was informed that a small number of persons were compensated, while most of them were not refunded. Following the crash, other flights were cancelled, and travellers had no other choice but to book flights with other airlines.

Most of them commented on social media about the company’s failure to refund their monies.

“Some of the passengers were compensated, and some weren’t. Most of the passengers did not get back their refund as yet. They would usually give persons weekly, so we don’t know how many were compensated,” a former employee informed.

It was reported last month that the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) has been forced to intervene in the situation with Fly Jamaica and its passengers.

This is after several written complaints were filed stating their distresses. This prompted officials of the company to declare that customers would be reimbursed in the third week of March.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of CCAC, Allison Parker, had stated that the Commission would take action if the airline did not keep its side of the bargain.

Meanwhile, the employees were informed that if the circumstances of the company changes in the future and they are still interested in rejoining staff, then they will be allowed to do so.

Calls to the local numbers listed for Fly Jamaica went unanswered.

Changing…

A

…dual citizens’ law?

FC leader Raphael Trotman announced that our Constitution is doing a “disservice” to Guyana by barring dual citizens from serving as MPs and ministers. So what he wants is an amendment to change Art 155 (1), which announces: “No person shall be qualified for election as a member of the National Assembly who- (a) is, by virtue of his or her own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience and adherence to a foreign power of state.”

So how is this stipulation a “disservice” to Guyana?? Well Trotman says our nation has suffered a “brain drain” over the past decades, and we need those Guyanese -- who’ve picked up all sorts of skills abroad -- in our Government.

Now, while there’s no question this Government needs skills to push our development plans, Trotman has missed the point why that Article was placed in the Constitution in the first place. It was there from the very beginning in 1966, when we were given our Independence Constitution – just like most other countries that received their independence from Britain. Like Australia and Jamaica, which also invoked the clause recently to throw out dual citizens from their Parliament.

Point is, MPs and ministers are part of the GOVERNMENT – the legislature and executive respectively – and their powers to shape policy for the nation are very great. Accordingly, the British knew that persons filling these roles must be totally committed to the nation; there has to be that spirit of patriotism to do whatever it takes to push our interests ahead of any foreign power’s. And imagine, the British did this when they would’ve wanted any number of fifth columnists to further whatever designs they might’ve had in Guyana.

In this day of modern imperialism under the rubric of “globalisation”, how can we have individuals crafting (MPs) and executing (ministers) policies when they’ve sworn allegiance to another power?? If the interests of Guyana were important enough to them, then why don’t returning dual citizens renounce their second citizenship BEFORE running for office? Which is what most of those presently disqualified have done.

What does it say of their nationalism and patriotism when, like Minister of Business Gaskin, they’d rather quit as a minister but retain their (his is British) citizenship??

With his lacklustre performance as a minister (at best!), hasn’t he confirmed the suspicions that he really didn’t have his heart in his job, with one foot in Britain?? No… your Eyewitness if of the firm view that Art 155 (1) must remain as is.

From the ongoing Constitutional opportunism, our young nation is already suffering from a lack of patriotism internally. Quislings!!

We don’t need to import more from “foreign”, do we?? …the party line??

Your Eyewitness is a tad confused with all the confusion coming out of the PNC camp on the dual citizenship issue and their ministers. Not about the changing stories as to the fate of the Foreign Four as far as their resignations and all that. As he wrote yesterday, he knows that once you’ve received the 18-gun salute treatment of being a minister, parting is certainly NOT sweet sorrow. Bitter bile!! In fact, these fellas (and they’re all fellas) will have to be pulled, kicking and screaming, from their newly furbished offices!!

He gives no shrift at all about any “process” of “renouncing” their foreign citizenship. This Eyewitness has seen enough American protesters during the Vietnam War, burning their passports after they fled to Europe or Canada, to accomplish the “renouncing” - and not be eligible for the draft. All the Foreign Four (well, actually, three, since Gaskin says he ain’t giving up his foreign perks) have to do is call a press conference at the Square of the Revolution.

And burn their foreign passports!! …parliamentary sitting The nation was assured that the National Assembly simply HAD to meet on April 11, since funding had to be voted for GECOM to conduct elections!

And now it’s cancelled without a new date. Another ploy to delay elections?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

News

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alleged fraudulent naturalisation notices

Citizenship Dept blames Govt newspaper for “misprint”

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itizenship Minister Winston Felix has blamed the Government-owned Guyana Chronicle for the incorrect publication of naturalisation notices which was allegedly part of an immigration fraud at the Citizenship Ministry.

At his press conference on Wednesday, Jagdeo shared the notices that

were published in the state’s newspaper, which showed that foreign individuals who applied for citizenship were being featured in more than one publication, but with different names and addresses.

However, Minister Felix on Thursday said that all the processes that the Department of Citizenship applies to applications for

citizenship are enshrined in the Laws of Guyana under the Guyana Citizenship Act 1401. “(It) requires the applicant for naturalisation to publish their applications for naturalisation in one of the daily newspapers. The Department has nothing to do with what appears in the newspapers. If an error occurs in the publication, that

High Court finds sufficient evidence to extradite Troy Thomas to US

that the treaty which was entered into between the United Kingdom and the United States of America on December 22, 1931, when Guyana was a colony of the United Kingdom, was never incorporated into the domestic laws of Guyana.”

Troy Anthony Thomas

J

ustice Navindra Singh on Thursday ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Troy Thomas to warrant his extradition to the United States of America, where he is wanted in connection with two criminal matters.

In addition, Thomas was ordered to pay $450,000 in court costs.

Justice Singh has accordingly dismissed an application by Thomas, a prisoner, in which he sought to challenge his “illegal” confinement.

Thomas has been accused of murdering Keith Frank, 20, a Guyanese who was shot and killed on December 11, 2011 outside a Richmond Hill, New York party. He has also been accused of inflicting injuries upon Dr. Katherine Maloney.

Following a hearing in 2018, Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus had ordered Thomas extradited to the USA to face the charges levelled against him.

In committing Thomas for extradition, the Magistrate, among other

things, ruled that she believed the fugitive was Troy Thomas, although he insisted that his name was Marvin Williams. In June 2012, a US judge issued a warrant for his arrest in the name of Troy Thomas.

Since 2012, authorities in the United States had issued a wanted bulletin for the murder suspect.

In an affidavit sworn to

by Thomas, he is arguing that his confinement is illegal; that he is being unlawfully detained and subjected to legal processes unsupported by any legal basis or foundation.

In court documents, Thomas said he is applying to the court for leave to issue a Writ of Habeas Corpus, directing the Commissioner of Police to show cause why he should not be immediately released.

In early 2018, before High Court Justice JoAnn Barlow, lawyers for Thomas, including Nigel Hughes, Bernard Da Silva and Darren Wade, had mounted a challenge against the Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Guyana.

On June 15, 2018, Justice Barlow ruled that the Magistrates’ Courts had jurisdiction to hear the extradition proceedings.

The Judge further ruled that there is an Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Guyana. The Judge had noted that the Extradition Act 1870 to 1935 and the 1931 Treaty were incorporated into domestic legislation in Guyana.

Further in the affidavit, Thomas said, “I am advised by my Attorney-atLaw, and verily believe,

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

is a problem for the newspapers and the applicant.

They have to sort that out and clear up any error that may have occurred,” Felix said.

Meanwhile Opposition

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had long been saying that the coalition Government is granting thousands of Haitians and Cubans citizenship in order for them to get voting rights for the

upcoming elections. But Government had rejected this notion.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs back in June 2018 had revealed alarming statistics involving thousands of Haitians and Cubans who are not only overstaying their time in Guyana, but cannot be accounted for.

As at April 30, 2018, a total of 1238 Haitians arrived in Guyana, but only 85 left the country. In 2017, some 3515 Haitian nationals entered Guyana, and 291 left; while, the year before, out of 722 Haitians who came here, only 451 were on record as leaving. There were 770 Haitian nations who arrived in 2015; 227 in 2014, and 188 in 2013; but only 136, 113 and 99 left the country respectively.

10 news

FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Minister Lawrence greeted with protests at Port Mourant

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ublic Health Minister Volda Lawrence was on Thursday greeted by protestors when she turned up to commission the National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant.

Led by head of the Regional Health Committee Zamal Hussain, the protestors are calling for a proper health care system in the region.

Hussain, speaking with the media, explained that

they are protesting the deficiency and inefficiency which exist in the health sector, along with mismanagement, corruption and cronyism in the sector.

Hussain said the people of Region Six are suffering tremendously.

“Diabetic patients’ tablets are being rationed on a monthly basis. Persons who have to get thirty days’ tablets are being given ten days’ tablets,” he said.

Residents picket Health Ministers at Port Mourant

Hussain blamed both Ministers in the Public Health Ministry, saying that they have been abusing tax payers’ money on extravagant ceremonies and parading in the region.

“The health sector is in serious problems as it relates to drugs and medical supplies,” he warned.

He said the Ministers, who have the authority to fix the problems which exit in the health sector, have been turning a blind eye to them.

With the problems spread across the Region, Hussain suggested that both Ministers do the honourable thing and resign. He also noted that both the Skeldon Hospital and the Regional Health Department are managed by political activists.

Being reminded by this publication that under the

previous administration the head of the regional health sector was also a political activist, Hussain replied by saying that then it was a political activist who was medically qualified.

“This man is not a professional. We have to ensure that we have professional persons to manage the health system. Health is about people’s lives. You cannot give a donkey a mouth organ to blow; he will chew it up, and that is what is happening in the health system in Region Six,” he declared.

The political activist said he would continue to advocate on behalf of the people of the Region. Among the issues Hussain said he will be pushing to have resolved are the lack of basic health care, the lack of an adequate supply of X-ray films, and lack of the necessary equipment to do certain tests at hospitals across the Region.

Structural deficiencies are also listed along with non-performance of cataract

surgeries at the National Ophthalmology Hospital. He also referred to a shortage of doctors at several hospitals and vacancies which have been in existence for more than one year.

Asked whether, as head of the Regional Health Committee, he should not be applauding the health sector, since the Minister was in the Region to commission a series of projects, Hussain said he welcomes all of the developments in the region, but the extent of the inefficiency cannot be overshadowed.

Projects commissioned

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had some comforting words for health care providers. She said the Public Health Ministry tries to provide the best health care for all Guyana.

At the Port Mourant Hospital, the administrative department and waiting area was re-commissioned; so, too, were three recov-

ery rooms, the Department for Eye Care, the operating theatre and the VCT centre; while the upgraded laboratory was commissioned as well as an upgraded kitchen, new X-ray department, upgraded Pharmacy Department, waiting area and shed, male and female wards and a vehicle parking area.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, has urged persons to support the public health system. In a few years, she said, there will be a total transformation of the health system.

“That is why we changed our mane from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Public Health, with the main focus now being on the ‘public’.” She said the Ministry of Public Health is focusing on helping both people and communities.

“So we are promoting health, preventing disease, and there is a renewal of primary health care,” Minister Cummings said.

S RAIGHT

NEWS

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

21lbs cocaine, 101lbs ganja found in Lethem …2 arrested, 1 suspect on the run

And David G does not want to see the truth?

By: SASE Singh; M.Sc. - Finance, ACCA.

T

he jobs crisis in Guyana is enormous. According to the Bureau of Statistics (source: https://statisticsguyana. gov.gy/surveys.html#csurveys), at the end of 2017, the total population between the ages of 15 and 65 years old was 547,928 persons (the potential labour force). Some 73.5 per cent of those people reside in rural Guyana.

Of those 547,928 persons, the survey found that only 54.5 per cent of them were actively looking for work.

In Rwanda, that rate is 86 per cent; in Vietnam it is 78 per cent; St Lucia – 68 per cent; Haiti – 68 per cent; Jamaica – 67 per cent, and Trinidad – 62 per cent. Get the picture? Our potential labour force is underutilised.

The Survey found that, at the end of 2017, some 36,416 persons in Guyana were unemployed. However, when the under-employed portion is added to this number in addition to the 5,000 plus workers that were made redundant across the sugar belt, we can safely say some 56,000 able-bodied men and women who are interested in working cannot find work.

This crisis is accentuated if one shines some light on youth unemployment. It was found to be twice that of the adult rate, at almost 23 per cent. If the lens were narrowed to the population of young women in particular, female youth unemployment increases to 30 per cent. The bottom-line remains that 1 in 4 young persons who wanted to enter the labour force could not find work at the end of 2017.

Based on my preliminary survey on the ground in March 2019, the situation appears worse. This is no joking matter, Mr. Granger, you have failed the youths with an “F” GRADE on the job creation front.

The solution? Though it might be too late for Team Granger, it is certainly not too late for the incoming Government after the upcoming elections. It is imperative that they attack this underemployment crisis head-on. The core solution lies in the empowerment of the private sector. This can easily be done by the state sector breaking down all doors that inhibit free and fair direct investments. This has proven in many progressive countries, like Rwanda and Singapore, as the key to creating the necessary new jobs. The optimum outcome is new innovations in the workplace to increase productivity.

Entrepreneurs like Yesu Persaud and Peter D’Aguiar are a rare species in Guyana today. But more than ever, thinkers and risktakers of this calibre are vitally needed to expand competitiveness of the economy. I am not speaking of traders who import and sell goods; anyone can do that. I am speaking about thinkers and risk-takers who are creating new value and niche products every year for the export market. It is a proud private celebration for me when I observe the El Dorado rum from Guyana on the top shelf at some of the best hotels in Washington DC. What Guyana needs is more Yesus and Peters, and by the dozens; and that will only happen if two things are done urgently. One: targeted state support for the investment sector, and two: implement massive reform in the education sector.

Every Region must have a new industrial site that is readyto-produce for the export market. All are welcome, but only the exporters should receive the benefits of tax holidays and duty free status for a definite incubation period.

Secondly, school leavers must be produced who can feed the needs of the private sector in the main. If the private sector needs chemists, then UG must offer full scholarships to Chemistry Majors for a specified time, and so on. This must be a joint effort between the private sector and the state sector.

On top of that, international special short courses to drive the introduction of innovative technologies and work processes must be run periodically at UG, to allow our top executives in both the State and Private Sectors, along with some of their technicians, to boost their competence. A great course for a start would be: how to set up a petrochemical industry in Guyana using real executives and trainers from world-class schools such as the National University of Singapore and the Punjab Engineering College of Chandigarh, India.

Lastly, but very importantly, Guyana has to accelerate its ambition to secure low cost and reliable electricity. The Amaila Falls Hydro Power Plant must be built, but in an environment of transparency and full public disclosure, unlike what we saw with the US$18 million oil advance to the Granger regime. Because of the size of this investment, during construction, it will boost the economy by 6 per cent per year for 4 years. That situation fits neatly into a development timeline that can absorb the full impact of the oil revenue by 2025.

Great things can happen for all the people of Guyana. It requires time, effort and true grit from whoever sits as the President of Guyana. Does Mr. Granger want to see this truth?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

Feel free to contact me at sasesin1@yahoo.com

S

ixty-one taped parcels containing 9.5 kilograms (21 pounds) of cocaine and 45.9 kilograms (101 pounds) of compressed ganja were confiscated by the Police during a raid at an incomplete structure at Tabatinga, Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Reports are that around 19:30h on Wednesday evening, the Police, acting on information, visited the location, where they spotted a male. Upon realising that ranks were closing in on him, the suspect fled the scene, and is yet to be apprehended.

According to the Police, when the incomplete structure was searched, the parcels containing the illegal substances were found.

Two males were subsequently arrested in connection with the find and were said to be assisting with the investigation.

One of the men has been identified as the owner of the property in which the drugs were found while the second

person was arrested after he attempted to bribe Police Officers.

Guyana Times was told that the second arrest was made following a sting operation set up by the Police.

It was noted that the suspect attempted to pay ranks a huge sum of money to have the drugs returned to him.

According to the Police, this discovery was as a result of a “good intelligence”

system in that area. It is believed that the drugs discovered were for local distribution and not to be trafficked outside of the country.

Investigations into the matter continue.

Earlier in the week, ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch arrested 24-yearold Rena Jagernauth of West Coast Berbice, who had in her possession in excess of 10 pounds of cocaine

concealed in books at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The four books were reportedly in her luggage.

According to information received, the woman cut holes in the centres of the books and stashed the cocaine inside. She then used glue to paste the pages together. She was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $13 million.

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Educators urged to stimulate quality early childhood education

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eachers from several nursery schools are being groomed at a National Early Childhood Education Conference to ensure young learners receive quality schooling.

Partnering with the Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (New York), the Education Ministry commenced the national workshop on Thursday with some 90 persons, and it will run for two days.

Speaking to the educators, Dr Gloria Thompson of the Association stated that opportunities for children should be expanded so that they can reach their maximum potential. She said it is evident that mental, physical and social developments are interconnected and can affect a child’s growth.

“We can expand early childhood education opportunities upon the lives of all the children that we serve.

What happens to and for young children in the first years of life has a lasting impact upon their ability to be productive members of society,” she explained.

Throughout the programme, several facilitators

Dr Gloria Thompson

will provide techniques to be used in the formal classroom setting. Those techniques will influence cognitive development in young children. Participants will also be briefed on how to identify developmental delays and children who are rapidly progressing.

Participants have been urged to use the skills gained during this initiative in the everyday delivery of education to young students.

“Forging collaborative partnerships and bonds with likeminded early childhood educators, and strengthening the foundation as well as the future of early child-

hood education in Guyana (are) very important. I place emphasis on quality, not something that is fragile,” Thompson noted.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Education Officer Samantha Williams related that the education sector will continue to solicit such collaborations with other agencies, to assist in the delivery of learning techniques.

In 2015, Guyana’s Early Childhood Development Project was launched with a World Bank grant totalling US$1.7 million. It was aimed at improving emergent literacy and numeracy

outcomes for children at the nursery level and Primary Grade One in hinterland regions and targeted remote riverine areas.

The Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (New York) focuses on bettering health care and education in the Caribbean. Last year, Project Coordinator Quenita Waldrond-Lewis gave an insight into the developments that were observed during a similar worship. It recorded a 91 percentage change in literacy and a 95 percentage change for numeracy in the hinterland schools during the period September 2015 to June 2017.

Meanwhile, from September 2016 to June 2018, records show a positive change of 139 per cent in literacy and 133 per cent change in numeracy. These numbers showed improvements in the students’ ability to successfully complete tasks that are essential at their academic level.

To modernise teaching spaces, the Education Ministry will be introducing the newly reformed curriculum in schools across the country through a pilot programme. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) studies would also be introduced to primary classes.

20.8% increase in fatal accidents so far this year – Police

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Acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie

here have been a 20.8 per cent increase in fatal accidents and a 19.2 per cent increase in deaths resulting from fatal accidents for the period of January 1 to April 3, 2019 as compared to the corresponding period last year, says the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“One death is one too many,” acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie is quoted as telling the heads of the traffic units countrywide during a meeting Thursday.

Hoppie congratulated the gathering of senior and junior ranks for their “efforts to remain relevant in a changing and dynamic environment”.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of monitoring and evaluation

which are critical tools in remaining relevant as well as effectively tracking the progress of any organisation or department whose focus is service oriented.

Consideration of the fact that “enforcement” is sometimes reduced to facilitate “traffic direction” as well as the dynamics of development and how they would affect the number of vehicles on our roads and influence the demands on the Traffic Department were also part of the focus of the Deputy Commissioner’s address.

The Department has been engaged in a massive education and sensitisation campaign, which has placed great emphasis on youths and students as well as minibus owners and operators.

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News

FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Girls in ICT Day to be observed with several events G irls in ICT Day is observed every year on April 26 in all member countries and organizations of the United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has, for many years, led Guyana’s outreaches into schools with special focus on rural areas. Since the Ministry of Public Telecommunications was established in 2016, GICT Day has blossomed, and the programme to attract the attention of more girls to ICT has been broadened considerably.

Tech Day and other GICT events have been held at schools at West Demerara, East and West Berbice, Essequibo and Georgetown.

This year, the NFMU’s activities include 2 Tech Camps,

to be situated at the St. Cuthbert’s Mission along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and at the Charity Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast. On Friday, April 5, the NFMU team will travel to St. Cuthbert’s to begin working with approximately 64 girls from the community who already have a basic understanding of cellphone technologies and the Internet.

The tech team expects to come away with a ‘Needs Analysis of the girls’, an assessment of the community’s capacity to master more complicated IT programmes, and an understanding of its to work with educational apps.

They will also examine the computers installed at the school, most of which are out of order, and will specify what items are needed for a functional computer laboratory at

Female students from several secondary schools across Guyana were exposed to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) operations of GTT during a tour of the company in 2018

the school.

On Tuesday, April 9, the team goes to the Charity Secondary School to hold a full-scale Tech Camp for teenage female students. These students are also computer literate, so the NFMU team plans to engage them in discussions and demonstrations to encourage them to learn Programming, Graphics Design and website development.

The NFMU’s Tech Camps for Girls are held every year.

In July 2018, at the CTU’s Roadshow and Agricultural Expo held in the Corentyne, female students from the Bygeval Secondary School launched the app they created to measure moisture content in planted fields.

The public will be kept abreast with all activities in observance of Girls in ICT.

$160M Indian Arrival Monument in Region 6 completed marked that while there are some minor areas where work needs to be improved, “generally, the presentation of the site is good, and will be one Guyanese will be proud of.”

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that Project Manager Stephon Chung stated that the project was completed on February 28, 2018 at an overall cost of $160 million.

Persons travelling to Region Six can, without a doubt, testify to seeing the six impressively huge, 12-foottall bronze statues erected

Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton and his team at the monument

T

he long-awaited Indian Arrival Monument which is located at Palmyra, East Coast Berbice (ECB) has now been completed and is expected to be commissioned on April 17.

This was confirmed during a visit to the Ancient County by Social Cohesion Minister Dr. George Norton, who has responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport.

On Thursday, Minister Norton and a team from his department toured and thoroughly inspected the spanking new historic site, where they were able to have a firsthand view of the facility and to approve the quality of work carried out by the contractors.

“We are going to declare open this monument site on the 17th of this month, with a representative of the

High Commission and an official from the Government of Guyana. It was long overdue… Once and for all, we can say that the monument is where it is supposed to be. We know the significance of it, so we are pleased to present to the public, after the 17, the monument for their viewing,” Minister Norton noted.

Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, who was also a part of the team, re-

and supported by a solid base at the ‘T Junction’ located just off the Berbice River Bridge’s entrance. The immense exhibit depicts a child, two women and three men performing their daily duties.

The six statues have a value of $31 million (US$150,000). It was a donation made by the Government of India to Guyana in 2017.

The APNU+AFC Government had intended to declare the monument site open at least before December of 2018, since the

project was high on its national agenda. However, after assuming office in 2015, the Government discovered numerous faults to the design built by the previous administration, which had to be revised.

Additionally, in April of last year, months before the sculptures were installed, the base which was constructed to support the six statues had collapsed.

According to Chung, this incident was one which contributed to the delay of the project’s completion.

14 NEWS

FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

West Watooka farmers WiPay aims at engaging Government to “do business” affected by ‘dry spell’ W F

armers of West Watooka, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are presently suffering from an acute shortage of water as the dry season continues.

Designated Regional Councillor to the farming community, Owen De Souza, in making representation on behalf of the community’s farmers at a regional statutory meeting on Thursday, pointed to the plight of farmers as he shared a few recommendations.

De Souza noted that he has had two recent meetings with the farmers, and has compiled recommendations for the Agriculture Minister relative to the pros and cons of the issue.

“Present now is the dry weather, and the farmers are facing the dry season because there’s insufficient water in the canal or drains...and farmers suffering a lot”, he told members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

“I did recommend for the farmers there to have a sluice, where in the dry weather they can take in the water, and in the wet weather they can take out the water if it’s too much on the land,” the Councillor explained.

De Souza further stressed that he would like to follow up this matter with the RDC’s Agriculture Committee, as he noted that this is a “burning issue”.

“Basically, the drains need to dig more deep...and have that sluice. It’s something really fundamental for farmers now and in the future”, he continued.

In response, Regional Chairman Renis Morian noted that on Monday there was an impromptu National Drainage and Irrigation

Designated Regional Councillor to the farming community, Owen De Souza

(NDIA) meeting, wherein there was a look at the issue of the ‘dry weather’ on a national scale.

“What we’re facing is not just (in) Upper DemeraraBerbice, it’s national. I know for sure National Drainage and Irrigation trying to deal with all of these matters, this is (as it relates to) the entire country. The predictions are that rain might come MayJune. If it don’t come MayJune, well then (we are in) real-real trouble. But I’m aware that the engineers are here looking at local situations... Nationally, we have serious situations”, he said.

Morian also pointed to one of the effects of the ‘dry weather’ spell, noting that a section of a tube pipe which takes water to the Wakanabu Creek in Linden was burnt due to naturally occurring fire. He noted, however, that a replacement tube is expected.

“We did recommend, though, that the technical people make this a study, because every year we get this drought. So the technical people should make this

a study, so they could come up with recommendations”, the Regional Chairman added.

He noted, too, that farmers of the Block 22 Medina Strait Farming Cooperative were advised to set aside space for the development of a reservoir which would assist in such times.

“So, for each area, you have to look at different solutions...we’re very much challenged right now,” Morian said.

Just last month, during a visit to the community by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, residents and farmers of West Watooka voiced a number of concerns, including inaccessibility to water. Chairman of the community’s Farmers Development Council, Arthur Johnson, has also pointed to some major concerns. Presently, farmers are forced to fetch water from the West Watooka residential area.

The area’s farming community has approximately 103 live-in farmers, and approximately 50 per cent of these have families. The farmers’ section of the community consists of approximately 700 metres of land.

Farmers indicated that though water is obtained from a canal, it is located too far away, and one of the farmers had told this publication that the water lines are cut off at the residential area. Johnson had indicated that farmers were willing to do self-help, if given pipelines.

Managing Director of the Guyana Water Inc, Dr Van West-Charles, has recently assured residents of the farming community that they are soon to receive assistance.

ith Guyana’s private sector being one of its major markets for customers, WiPay has disclosed plans to engage the Government of Guyana so that the State’s need for hard cash and other paper-based services can be replaced by the variety of convenient online payment services the company currently offers.

Headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), this online payment system has already partnered with that country’s Government to have Government payments done online, and is targeting to offer similar services to the governmental agencies in countries where its offices are located, including in Jamaica, St. Lucia and Guyana.

Chief Operational Officer (COO) of WiPay, Sacha Thompson, at a recent press conference, noted that the market for their technology varies in each country, considering the various laws existing. However, she pointed

out that since the launch of its online services in Guyana, private businesses have been embracing these services more than the public.

“It varies by markets.

Because, as you see and you read, you know the different countries have different phases of digital development, and that’s contingent on which countries have which laws, and which regulations (have been) passed…

In some of the islands, we started with Government as our first customer, and in other islands we started with the private sector.

In the case of Guyana, we started here with private sector, and we really hope to have further conversations

with the Government”, the COO stated.

Thompson also underscored that most countries in the Caribbean region are taking major steps to be involved in digital development as a whole. “Most countries are aiming, though, to get into the digital arena, (and are) taking major steps to do so,” she stated.

This objective is part of the company’s objective to give everyone an opportunity to access convenient online payment services without the need to travel. This entails being able to make and receive payments online with credit card and its newest ‘cash’ payments online service.

FAO Assistant Director General updated on Land Management Project

G

uyana Lands and Surveys Commission ( G L & S C ) Commissioner and Chief Executive Trevor Benn on Thursday received a courtesy call from Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Julio Berdegué.

During the brief exchange, Commissioner Benn updated Berdegué on the status of the Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management Project.

The FAO is currently working in tandem with the Commission to implement the project.

The components of the four-year project include land reclamation and development, implementation of a land classification system, and other requirements to facilitate optimal land utilisation and sustainable land development and management.

The project also caters for the development and operationalisation of GL&SC’s business plan, institutional strengthening and capacity development of stakeholders and the young population, as well as to strengthen GL&SC’s information system and infrastructure for informed decision-making and to increase education, communication, outreach, and public awareness.

“This is a very important project to Guyana, so we are looking to work hand in hand with the FAO, to overcome the various challenges that we may face in implementing this project,” Benn told the FAO representative.

Benn hailed the meet-

Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Commissioner and Chief Executive Trevor Benn and United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation Assistant Director General Julio Berdegué after a meeting on Thursday

ing with Berdegué and FAO country representative, Dr Gillian Smith, as a step in the right direction and said he hoped that this project would create some success stories for Guyana.

“We had projects here in Guyana, that were being implemented for huge sums of money, but the results were minimal, I don’t want to preside over something like that,” Benn said, adding that the Commission was developing human capacity to ensure that this project was indeed successful, and looked forward to the same from its FAO counterpart.

In response, FAO Assistant Director said he understood that there has been some sloth in implementing the project, but

promised to take steps to ensure that Guyana got value for its money when the project would come to an end.

“As much as this project is important to Guyana, it is important to the FAO, and I will ensure that steps are taken to have this project executed in a timely and tidy manner,” Berdegué assured.

The FAO representative will again follow up in six months on the status of the implementation of the progress.

The project was officially launched on January 18, 2018 and the components will run concurrently over a period of four years. It is being funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) at a cost of US$14.8 million.

news

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FRIday, april 5, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Aurora Gold Mine ready for FAO strengthens collaboration underground exploration with Guyana

Officials from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Guyana Gold Board (GGB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and members of the media during a safety brief at Aurora Gold Mine before a planned tour of the Cuyuni/Mazaruni mining operation

G

uyana Goldfields Inc, owner of Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) located in the north-west of Guyana’s Mazaruni Region, is set to begin underground mining very soon, after securing its much-needed clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Final clearance has to come from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

According to AGM’s Chief Executive Office, Scott Caldwell, all the necessary documents have been submitted to the GGMC for processing.

GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison corroborated Caldwell’s statement, telling members of the media that all documents have been submitted and the usual technical checks were now being conducted. “These things take time, but I can say everything has been submitted and clearance will come; but the checks have to be made.”

On Thursday, AGM hosted the Government and

AGM’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Caldwell speaking with members of the media following a tour of AGM’s Cuyuni/Mazaruni mining operation

private media on a tour of its Mazaruni operations.

During the visit, the company’s safety measures and records to date came in for praise from Commissioner Dennison.

The Aurora Mine is one of the largest gold mines in Guyana and the world, with an estimated reserve of 6.54 million ounces of gold.

AGM began open-pit exploration in Guyana in 1995, and began producing in 2016. So far, the company has invested approximately $63 billion (US$300 million) in its Guyana operations.

For the underground mining exploration, $5 billion (US$25million) is the set bill for the first three years of exploration, with another $21 billion (US$100 million) to be used in the next ten years of production.

AGM has a 16 per cent female workforce, with a special programme designed to teach women how to operate heavy machinery.

Training and internship are also offered to GGMC staff and University of Guyana students, specifically in the area of environmental studies.

Assistant DirectorGeneral and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr Julio A Berdegué

I

n his first official visit to Guyana, Assistant DirectorGeneral and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr. Julio A. Berdegué, stated that his visit to the country is an indication of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO’s) commitment to strengthening its collaboration with Guyana and working along with the Guyana Government to improve our agricultural sector.

Dr Berdegué indicated there are several reasons why the FAO intends to heighten its presence and relations with Guyana, chief among them being the recognition of Guyana’s potential as a food-producing magnate, and how it could help in curbing the growing food importation bill of the Caribbean Region.

“Right now, the Caribbean is spending [$943 billion] US$4.5 billion each year, to buy food that it could be growing in the sub-region. Guyana is a fundamental part of the solution to this problem. Few other countries in the Caribbean,

if any, have the production potential of Guyana. We are here to help the Government of Guyana, the farmers, the private sector, civil society to modernise this largely untapped potential, because it is critical not only to the benefit of this country, but for the welfare of the whole Caribbean region,” he said.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Dr. Berdegué also indicated that the FAO’s goal is gearing the country and the Caribbean region towards eating healthier foods, as the issue of obesity and overweight affects more than 50 per cent of the Guyanese population.

“It’s not just about producing food, we need to make sure we are producing healthy foods for healthy diets. Because another thing which is literally killing the Caribbean population, the main source of death today in the Caribbean, are diseases associated with a runaway epidemic of overweight and obesity,” he continued. “Fortynine per cent of the population of Guyana is overweight, 20 per cent of the population of this country is obese.”

He used these statistics to highlight that while it is important to increase production, it is also essential that we are producing healthy foods which can help to nourish the population.

He noted that our ability to produce these foods may be under threat due to the imposing effects of climate change. He explained that according to studies, by the year 2030, fifty per cent of the surface area of the Caribbean and Latin America will reach the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees higher temperature.

As such, the FAO is committed to working with the

FAO Representative for Guyana, Gillian Smith

Government of Guyana, the University of Guyana, and the Private Sector to find and implement real solutions to the threats faced by climate change.

Meanwhile, FAO Representative for Guyana, Gillian Smith, explained that the organisation is working at the grassroots level to aid farmers in their production practices.

“FAO is working with farmers particularly in the area of building their resilience, their resilience to climate change. Even with the production levels that we have, one of the things that we really want to work on is how to maintain and improve those, looking at climate-smart agricultural practices,” Smith said.

The Government has been working on these climate smart agricultural practices. For example, in the community of Paruima -- an Indigenous farming village in the CuyuniMazaruni area of Guyana which was the beneficiary of a new shade house facility, a cassava seed bank, as well as training and support in climate-smart agricultural practices.

Minister Allicock impressed with HEYS initiatives

Indigenous Peoples Affairs’ Minister Sydney Allicock examining a product being offered at the grocery store owned by Loretta Felix and Dexter Stanislaus

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ndigenous Peoples Affairs’ Minister Sydney Allicock is extremely pleased to see youths from Monkey Mountain, North Pakaraima in Region Eight, capitalising on the opportunity the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) programme is affording them.

On Wednesday he visited in the village two businesses, one owned and operated by siblings Arisa, Evelyn and their brother

Elvan Peters, who are into cattle rearing; and the other owned and operated by Loretta Felix and her brother Dexter Stanislaus, who own a grocery shop as well as an entertainment corner (mini cinema).

The Minister stated, “While everybody didn’t do what they were supposed to do, we have some success stories like these. It is good to know that you are turning over the money and you have something to bring in an in-

come; and more so your family -- your father, your uncle, your auntie -- being a part of this, which means that you are creating a job opportunity for that person. So we are very impressed by those who have made it and continue to have their business”.

Evelyn Peters, the older of the two sisters, noted thus, “It is good, I would say, because before we don’t have anything like this; but since they HEYS, we begin to bring cows and then we save and bring a heifer, then we go and buy another one and so on. We have twelve in the paddock right now, two are out. So that’s how we do it. We slaughter the bulls, sell it and save and buy more heifer”.

Government has pumped a substantial amount of financial and other resources into the HEYS programme across the country, and Minister Allicock assured the youths there that because of their commitment, they will receive a further boost for their businesses.

“We are now going to support businesses like

these with fifty thousand dollars. So it’s the three of you in the team, so you will receive one hundred and fifty thousand dollars that is going to be added to your business. We will be rolling this out within this month.

We have started already in a part of Region 9, and as the funding comes in, we would be releasing from Region to Region”.

The Ministry, Minister Allicock said, is endeavouring to build the capacity of “our indigenous youth to help the younger ones”.

Already, dialogue has commenced for a possible third cohort, and Minister Allicock noted, “We are working towards cohort three, because we have to find the basis for building the capacity of our young people. They must be able to think about the environment and everything around them; to know who they are; their culture; their history, and also the value of everything around us”.

Some five businesses were established and made opera-

Arisa and Evelyn Peters meet Minister Allicock on their cattle farm

ble in Monkey Mountain, and Minister Allicock has encouraged participants who would have dropped out of the programme to remain focused, because the knowledge they would have gained through the programme would remain with them for a lifetime.

In Monkey Mountain, Government has invested in excess of $10 million in twenty five individuals who participated in the programme.

Approximately three

thousand nine hundred youths have benefitted from the HEYS programme since it was rolled out in 2015 in Region 8, and many success stories have been shared.

This has seen Government pumping more than two billion dollars towards the development of indigenous youths and according to Minister Allicock, Government would continue investing in its people, since they are the future of tomorrow.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIday, APRIL 5, 2019

Around the World

crash report Brazil’s Bolsonaro warms to old- Ethiopian highlights sensors, style politics to push pension bill software; leaves questions

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razil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro appealed to leaders of five big centrist parties on Thursday to back his pension reform plan, resorting to the traditional political methods he had condemned during the election campaign.

The Government’s Deputy Senate Whip, Senator Izalci Lucas, told Reuters that Bolsonaro had done well to form a cabinet without political interference. But parties will now get to share some 2000 second-level federal jobs and

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks at an event with Israeli and Brazilian business people, attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem, April 2, 2019

have a say on public works that favour their member’s districts.

Bolsonaro, a longtime fringe Congressman, won the top office by criticising the corruption and extensive horse-trading of Brazilian coalition politics. Those practices directly led to the country’s “Car Wash” scandal, which has been called the largest political graft investigation ever, in which billions of dollars in kickbacks were funnelled through politically appointed executives at State-run companies and parties. (Excerpt from Reuters)

F

aulty sensor readings and multiple automatic commands to push down the nose of a Boeing plane contributed to last month’s fatal crash in Ethiopia, leaving the crew struggling to regain control, according to a preliminary accident report.

The first substantial account of the last minutes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on March 10 described how the Captain three times called out: “Pull up” and was acknowledged by the first officer, but to no

avail.

Boeing’s top-selling aircraft, the 787 MAX, has been grounded worldwide since the March 10 disaster, which killed 157 people and came just five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 in a plane of the same model.

Families of the victims, regulators and travellers around the world have been waiting for signs of whether the two crashes are linked, and the extent to which Boeing technology and the actions of the Ethiopian Airlines pilots played a role.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Hundreds of Grenadians to get jobs US House approves domestic with opening of island’s largest hotel violence bill amid dispute over guns

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell met with the majority shareholders of Royalton Grenada, Sunwing Travel Group

P

rime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell has welcomed news that hundreds of Grenadians will be employed by Royalton Grenada when the rebranded hotel opens its doors in December.

Located on the site of

what was the Grenadian by Rex, the rebranded hotel, Royalton Grenada, will provide direct employment for at least 400 persons while hundreds of others will also benefit from indirect employment.

New majority sharehold-

ers of the property, Sunwing Travel Group has confirmed that in addition to this significant level of direct and indirect employment when the hotel becomes operational, the construction phase which gets underway this month, will see the hiring of at least 450 persons.

The Prime Minister was apprised of these facts when he recently met with Sunwing’s Hotels & Resorts Executive Vice-President, Daniel Diaz.

“It is heartening to hear about the number of jobs that will be generated,” Prime Minister Mitchell said. “Projects like this create significant employment opportunities for locals, both in the construction phase and as permanent staff when the facility is operational. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

T

he United States House of Representatives voted Thursday to reauthorise a 25-year-old law that helps victims of domestic and sexual violence, despite complaints by Republicans that Democrats were politicising the popular law by expanding gun control.

The bill to reauthorise the Violence Against Women Act includes a provi-

sion making it easier to take away guns from violent offenders even if they are not a spouse or domestic partner. The amendment closes the so-called “boyfriend loophole” by barring those convicted of abusing, assaulting or stalking a current or former dating partner from buying or owning a firearm.

“We’re closing dangerous loopholes in our laws

U

Pence’s escalating rhetoric came after Turkey insisted on Wednesday that the Russian deal was done, signalling an apparent impasse between the two NATO allies.

Speaking at a NATO 70th anniversary event in Brussels, Pence said Turkey

risks expulsion from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme, which could cripple Turkish manufacturers who are making parts for the aircraft. And he raised the possibility of much broader repercussions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jazeera)

Jeff Bezos: World’s richest man agrees to US$35B divorce

Turkey defiant as US threatens Ankara over Russian S-400 missiles

S Vice President Mike Pence warned Turkey on Wednesday that it could risk its membership in NATO if it goes ahead with plans to buy a Russian air defence system despite widespread international opposition.

that, right now, allow those who’ve been convicted of stalking or dating violence to obtain firearms,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), a gun rights lobbying organisation, opposed the House measure and urged Republicans to vote against it. (Excerpt from Al

The pair said that they had had a great life together

T

he world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, and his wife MacKenzie have agreed a record-breaking divorce settlement worth at least US$35 billion.

Ms Bezos will retain a four per cent stake in online

retail giant Amazon which her husband of 25 years founded.

She will also give up her interests in the Washington Post newspaper and Bezos’ space travel firm Blue Origin.

The deal dwarfs a previous US$3.8 billion record set by art dealer Alec Wildenstein and his wife Jocelyn.

Ms Bezos made the announcement in a tweet – her first and only one since joining the microblogging website this month – stating that she was “grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage to Jeff with support from each other”.

Prior to the settlement, Mr Bezos held a 16.3 per cent stake in Amazon. He will retain 75 per cent of that holding, but Ms Bezos has transferred all of her voting rights to her former husband. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T&T: Coast Guard finds $120M in cocaine tied to tanker US rape suspect nabbed while

C

ustoms and T&T Coast Guard officials recovered close to TT$120 million worth of cocaine hidden aboard a foreign tanker that was docked at the Atlantic Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) port in Point Fortin sometime on Wednesday morning.

Customs sources told Guardian Media that seven bales of cocaine were found attached to the rudder of the ship Hispania Spirit. The rudder is a big metal flap attached to the tail of the ship

The ship Hispania Spirit

that assists in the steering of the vessel.

Sources close to the investigation said before the

LNG tanker’s departure the Captain was conducting safety checks when he saw what appeared to be suspi-

cious packages in the rudder well area. The captain alerted a local agent who later contacted the T&T security authorities. Coast Guard divers later went into the water and retrieved the bales of cocaine, which were fastened in the rudder well area with rope. The drugs weighed some 200 kilograms.

Several foreign tankers enter the Atlantic port frequently to collect LNG before leaving for their destinations. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

attempting to flee to Jamaica

N

ew York City resident Roydell Cameron was arrested last Friday at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport as he tried to board a flight to Jamaica, the Associated Press reported.

Cameron, who has been charged with sexual assault for an incident that occurred in New Jersey 14 years ago, is on remand in New York pending extradition to New Jersey.

The arrest was an-

nounced on Thursday.

“Authorities say an expanded cold case homicide unit helped develop DNA evidence in the case, which led to Cameron being identified as a suspect. The 39-yearold Bronx man is accused of raping a woman at gunpoint in Palisades Park in April 2005.

Cameron faces two counts of sexual assault, as well as a weapons offence and a charge of making terroristic threats.”

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, april 5, 2019

D

elegates for Miss Earth Guyana 2019 Pageant unveiled Nine intelligent and beautiful young ladies are expected to clash head on for the title of Miss Earth Guyana 2019. The delegates were last weekend sashed at a simple ceremony at the Theatre Guild, where they were first introduced to the public.

The young contestants all had an impressive night and are committed to having a grand time during the preliminaries, which have already kicked off.

Leading up to the grand coronation on June 15, the nine delegates will be participating in a number of events.

On Saturday, the delegates will participate in the Georgetown Seawalls Clean-up followed by a meet-and-greet event on Saturday, April 13, 2019 in Georgetown. The delegates will then head to the Ancient County of Berbice between April 20 and 22 to be introduced to the public.

Name: Phelicia Adams Age: 18 Community: Parika, East Bank Essequibo Astrological Sign: Scorpio Favourite Dishes: Baked macaroni and cheese, pizza and pepperpot.

Favourite Colour: Pink Beauty For A Cause: Beautification. I plan on utilising the 5Rs in promoting an eco-friendly environment.

Hobbies: Dancing, singing, knitting, socialising and listening to music especially my favourite singer August Alsina.

Name: Maricia Meusa Age: 19 Community: North East La Penitence, Georgetown Astrological Sign: Aries Favourite Dish: Ochro Favourite Colours: Royal purple and bright yellow Beauty for a cause: Protecting the mangroves by organising a campaign which is going to aid in protection of the mangroves, and providing information about how they protect the coastline and people.

Hobbies: Reading and making new friends.

Name: Kataina Phillips Age: 23 Community: Durban Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown Astrological Sign: Aries Favourite Dishes: Chowmein, steamed leafy vegetables, beans and vegetables rice.

Favourite Colour: Blue Beauty For A Cause: “Protecting our Planet against Land Pollution” (POPALP) – Even though it’s not the only pollution, our planet is greatly affected by, it’s one area I will be able to target effectively and efficiently.”

Hobbies: Reading, writing short stories and poems, adventure trips, cooking and playing cricket.

Name: Selena Guyadeen Age: 19 Community: Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara Astrological Sign: Aquarius Favourite Dishes: Guyanese 7 Curry – dhal, channa with potato curry, pumpkin, spinach, katahar, coconut choka and baigan along with chutney and some rice Favourite Colour: Black Beauty For A Cause: Disharmony of the environment – harmony between the environment and humans is too corrupt and a balance needs to be struck.

Hobbies: Travelling, reading and trying out new things.

Name: Sunita Sears Age: 19 Community: Bare Root, East Coast Demerara Astrological Sign: Cancer Favourite Dishes: Cookup rice, pepper pot and fried rice.

Favourite Colour: Blue Beauty For A Cause: To improve on the improper disposal of non-biodegradable waste. Recycling is crucial and even the smallest step can have significant benefits for the environment.

Hobbies: Singing, dancing, swimming and socialising.

Name: Annessa Van Sluytman Age: 19 Community: Industry, East Coast Demerara Astrological Sign: Virgo Favourite Colour: Pink Beauty For A Cause: To use rice hulls (rice husk) in the construction of wood laminate floors in order to decrease their polluting effect on the environment and also to reduce the need for wood from trees.

Hobbies: Learning languages and dancing.

Name: Cintiana Harry Age: 26 Community: Kilcoy/ Chesney, Corentyne, Berbice.

Astrological Sign: Aries Favourite Dish: Pumpkin and roti Favourite Colour: Red Beauty For A Cause: Recycle4us –it is based upon promoting environmental stewardship through education and cooperation on a community level.

Hobbies: Cooking, going to the gym, modelling, dancing, reading and writing short stories and poems.

Name: Amelia Baksh Age: 21 Community: Good Hope, East Coast Demerara Astrological Sign: Libra Favourite Dish: Chowmein Favourite Colour: Blue Beauty For A Cause: 4R P.L.U.S which is reduce, reuse, recycle and respect; preserve, learn, unite and be self-aware.

This initiative was designed with the objective of bringing our youths together to promote environmental sustainability while learning and becoming selfaware.

Hobbies: Gardening, reading horror stories, creating manga and researching DIYs.

Name: Faydeha King Age: 26 Community: Corriverton, Berbice Astrological Sign: Aquarius Favourite Dishes: Spicy bunjal curry, corilla, pumpkin, roti and cook-up.

Favourite Colours: Purple and yellow.

Beauty For A Cause: Iplant – is an environmental strategy that will: Educate – teach the public how to, Inspire – share why it is important to and Beautify – planting beautiful trees in open areas. This project also promotes a green economy with clean air.

Hobbies: Enjoying nature, reading, discovering, and having quiet time to let my imagination run free.

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friDAY, april 5, 2019

UG Fete featuring Shenseea set for May 21 J amaica’s top female dancehall artiste, Shenseea is set to be the headlining act when the Guyana Carnival, in collaboration with PACE and the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), hosts UG Fete, a new addition to the Guyana Carnival list of activities for 2019.

A venue for the Tuesday, May 21 show is yet to be confirmed,

but plans are moving apace for the hosting of the show.

The Dancehall artiste will arrive in Guyana a few days prior to the event and will participate in a meet-andgreet event on May 20.

In addition to the Jamaican Dancehall Queen, Guyana’s own, Timeka Marshall, will be sharing the stage. According to the Carnival Committee, other local artistes will be added to the cast, which will give the public and more so, the

students of the tertiary institution, a show to remember.

Both Shenseea and Marshall have several hits under their belts and without a doubt, they will put on a show to ensure their fans are properly entertained.

Tickets for the show cost $3000 for general admission and $10,000 for the stage front experience.

However, UG students will pay $2500 for general admission and $8000 for

stage front. Those students will have a chance to purchase their tickets at the University prior to the show.

For the public, tickets will be available at the Guyana Carnival Box Office at Hits and Jams Entertainment, Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

Part of the proceeds will

be d o nated to the University of Guyana to undertake ongoing projects.

Miss India Guyana 2019 promises a journey of spectacular glitz & glam

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he Miss India Guyana application process is currently open with the main aim of finding Guyana’s representative to the 28th Annual Miss India Worldwide Pageant billed for September in Mumbai, India. This year, the national pageant will continue to

be a kaleidoscope of beauty, talent, intelligence, glamour and elegance as the coronation date will be released soon.

This year, the pageant will see the return of last year’s successful “Know your roots” segment, which will give each of the delegates a better insight into their rich Indian culture through sessions of kathak dancing, yoga, Indian cooking, sari draping, Hindi, etc.

There will also be a few other new and innovative initiatives this year, which will continue to bring the delegates closer to their cultural heritage while challenging and improving their overall growth.

One such activity is “Bhaarateey Khaana” –

a cooking competition.

However they will be cooking foods from one state of

India whose style of cooking they will be required to learn about, as well as cus-

toms and traditions, etc, and then recreate the dish of their choice for an experienced panel of judges for a special prize.

Each of the local delegates will walk away with cash and prizes, with the winner receiving an all-expenses paid trip to Mumbai, for the Pageant. She will be treated to a tour of India while experiencing a remarkable stay at The Leela Hotel, Mumbai. She will also have the honour of meeting and greeting many famous Bollywood celebrities.

This is the second year of the Guyana Miss India franchise being under new management, which saw Shoshanna Ramdeen representing Guyana last year.

Although she did not manage to make the top 10, she did walk away with the Miss Beautiful Smile Award and won many hearts of the media at the international

pageant in New Jersey.

Ramdeen has created a sterling legacy for her successor to continue on from her involvement and appearances at many charity and social events to a number of advertising contracts with BM Soat, Travel Span and Amanda’s Bridal to name a few. This year will be no different as the winner will get the opportunity to work with corporate companies and brands.

Requirements for Miss India Guyana Applicant must be of Indian origin Applicant must be 18-27 years of age as at December 31, 2019 Must be a citizen, resident or born in Guyana Must never have been married or given birth Applicant must be talented Applicant must have a passion for Indian culture and charity

Guyanese designer to host Spring Fashion Empowerment Conference on Sunday

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ritish Virgin Islands-based Guyanese designer Nadia Thomas-Winter will on Sunday, April 7 host the first annual Spring Fashion Empowerment Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre from 12:30h.

The event, which is being hosted under Thomas-Winter’s newlyestablished Non-Government Organisation – Empowering to Lead with Confidence (ELC), will be the first of its kind in Guyana. It will be an all-inclusive event with a tea party setting.

The event will also include a panel of international and local speakers including Guyana-born, US-based Sebrena Kelly – global ambassador, speaker, TV & radio host; Guyana-born, BVI-based Dacia Daniels-Louie – stylist; Akola Thompson – Guyanese independent journalist; Ain Earle, founder of The Fashion Arch in Trinidad and lifetime alopecia awareness advocate; and Krystal Tomlinson, author, TV host and empowerment speaker from Jamaica.

These empowered leaders will be speaking on the topic “The Creative Spark”.

The NGO’s aim is to promote unity through networking, supporting, upliftment and inciting conversations that matter.

Jamaican author, TV host and empowerment speaker Krystal Tomlinson

“The audience will share stories over delicious food, enjoy a fabulous fashion show presented by local and international designers, and dance to fun music. Proceeds from the event will be used for the planning of upcoming events that will continue to empower persons within the community and our Dreaming Butterflies Programme,” Thomas- Winter said.

The fashion show will feature Guyanese designers Quinton Pearson, Pamela Fox, Nadia Thomas- Winter, Rhoda Doxa, Vanda Allicock, and Calistro and Habibah Atherly.

Trinidadian designer Damian Moore and BVI designer Markita Smith will

Guyana-born, BVI-based stylist Dacia Daniels-Louie

also grace the runway with their designs.

Tickets for the event cost $6000 and can be purchased at Tower Hotel and Rare Finez in Giftland Mall.

About “Empowering to Lead with Confidence”

ELC is a volunteer membershipbased non-profit organisation started by a group of professional Guyanese. The organisation is about building leadership, encouraging everyone to walk boldly in their talents, focusing on community awareness, empowerment, health and wellness, and professional development.

The organisation strives to

Trinidad’s Fashion Arch founder and lifetime alopecia awareness advocate Ain Earle

inspire all Guyanese to live a life of purpose so that they can build a generation of men and women who understand their worth, and who are unwilling to compromise their character and uniqueness for the appeasement of others.

Support for the arts

ELC’s goals involve creating programmes that will be beneficial to the growth of school-age students focusing on the Arts (music, visual arts, drama), encouraging children to embrace their individuality; to express themselves creatively, and follow their artistic dreams. Part of the proceeds of this event will help

Guyanese independent Journalist Akola Thompson

to provide art and music supplies to underprivileged children and schools.

“We see a pressing need in many communities for the promotion of charitable donations of art and music supplies to support individuals, schools, and other non-profit organisations serving youth and the arts. Core to our identity is the belief that all children, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have access to art education.

As a public charity powered by volunteers, this belief drives all that we do,” Thomas- Winter said.

Research has shown that art education has a tremendous impact on the developmental

Guyana-born, speaker, TV & Sebrena Kelly

US-based radio host

growth of every child and it has proven to help level the learning field across socio-economic boundaries. Yet, all too often art, music and drama are the first areas affected by budget cuts, leaving children and young adults without the resources necessary to participate in these educationenriching programmes.

ELC’s aim is to provide art, music and drama materials free of charge to schools and community organizations. The Dreaming Butterflies Programme would be instrumental in increasing access to the benefits of art, music and drama education for thousands of children across the country.

friday, APRIL 5, 2019

19

Mohammad Nabi and Jonny Bairstow combine to sink Delhi Capitals

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s opposed to using their batting might to win their last two matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad took the top position in the points table with a collective and clever bowling display on a low and slow Feroz Shah Kotla pitch.

Right from the beginning Delhi Capitals didn’t look like setting a big total and were restricted to 129 for 8, which Sunrisers crossed with an over-and-ahalf to spare.

Capitals had botched their last two chases with forgettable collapses and would have been eager to change the trend when they were asked to bat, but they struggled to stitch partnerships against Mohammad Nabi’s spin and a

Jonny Bairstow

pace attack that used its speed variations smartly. Capitals’ best stand scored 22 runs off as many balls, whereas Sunrisers began the chase with a 64-run opening stand in 41 balls. The hosts managed to strike a few blows late in the chase but the total they had put up wasn’t big enough to give Sunrisers a scare.

Sunrisers’ Powerplay strangle Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Nabi did what they’ve been doing well for some time in the IPL - strangle batsmen early on. After being driven for a four off his first ball by Prithvi Shaw, Bhuvneshwar swung one in to knock back Shaw’s off stump. Nabi went around the wicket to left-handers Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and Rahul Tewatia and kept cramping them for room, using his classical offspin and dip.

Nabi accounted for Dhawan, who top-edged a sweep to short fine leg for 12 off the last ball of the Powerplay, in which Capitals only hit two fours and a six. Capitals were then 36 for 2 and their run rate dipped further thereafter.

Bhuvneshwar bowled nine dots in his first two overs and Nabi finished with 3-0-18-1 in the Powerplay to set the tone for Sunrisers’ domination.

Sharp catching and the slower deliveries Having judged the nature of the pitch, Shreyas Iyer and

Pant relied on singles and twos before Nabi’s return, and an attempted big hit from Pant, broke the stand.

Sunrisers’ bowling was well complemented by their fielding efforts too: first a composed Deepak Hooda pouched Pant at the long-off boundary, and a few overs later Manish Pandey swooped low to his left from point to get his hands under a Colin Ingram cut, leaving Capitals 75 for 5 in the 14th over.

S a n d e e p Sharma used his knuckle ball frequently, and one of them stopped so much on Tewatia, who was promoted to No. 5, that he checked his follow through to balloon a catch to extra-cover. Pant, Ingram and Tewatia had all fallen for five runs each.

All this time, Iyer used soft hands to nudge and dab the ball around in a largely run-a-ball innings. He was beaten a few times when he tried reading Rashid Khan off the pitch and was eventually bowled by a wrong’un in the 17th over for 41. At 115 for 7 with six balls to go, Capitals found a late lift courtesy two final-over sixes from Axar Patel.

Sunrisers hold their nerve after the Bairstow show David Warner was on 6 off 11 at the end of the Powerplay, but Sunrisers were coasting

at 62 for no loss.

This was down to Jonny Bairstow’s

Mohammad Nabi

audacious s h o t s against the spinners, and his use of the pace offered by Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada to collect 16 and 14 runs in their respective first overs. By the time they began varying their pace, it was too late.

Bairstow swept the first ball he faced, from Sandeep Lamichhane, for four and two overs later struck him for a six and a four off successive balls to make his intentions clear.

In between, Axar put down a tough chance off his own bowling when Bairstow was on 5. Bairstow continued his attack against the quicks, and by the time the Powerplay was done, the asking rate was under five an over.

Tewatia finally trapped Bairstow lbw for a 28-ball 48 with one that straightened, and even though the batsman reviewed it instantly, ball-

3

SCOREBOARD

Delhi Capitals Innings (20 overs maximum) PP Shaw b Kumar 11 S Dhawan c Sharma b Nabi 12 SS Iyer (c) b Rashid Khan 43 RR Pant † c Hooda b Nabi 5 R Tewatia c Nabi b Sharma 5 CA Ingram c Pandey b Kaul 5 CH Morris c Nabi b Kumar 17 AR Patel not out 23 K Rabada c Kumar b Kaul 3 I Sharma not out 0 Extras (lb 3, w 2) 5 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 6.45) 129/8 Did not bat: S Lamichhane Fall of wickets: 1-14 (PP Shaw, 2.2 ov), 2-36 (S Dhawan, 5.6 ov), 3-52 (RR Pant, 9.1 ov), 4-61 (R Tewatia, 10.5 ov), 5-75 (CA Ingram, 13.3 ov), 6-93 (SS Iyer, 16.1 ov), 7-107 (CH Morris, 18.2 ov), 8-115 (K Rabada, 19.2 ov) BOWLING B Kumar (4-0-27-2) M Nabi (4-0-21- 2) S Kaul (4-0-35- 2) R Khan (4-0-18- 1) S Sharma (4-0-25-1) tracking suggested the ball would have hit leg stump.

Seven balls after Bairstow departed, Warner found midoff to depart for 10 before Vijay Shankar steered Sunrisers past the 100 mark. Capitals would have had their tail up when Pandey, Vijay and Hooda gave their wickets away in the space of three overs, and Sunrisers slipped to 111 for 5. But the

Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (target: 130 runs from 20 overs) DA Warner c Morris b Rabada 10 JM Bairstow † lbw b Tewatia 48 V Shankar c Iyer b Patel 16 MK Pandey c Shaw b Sharma 10 DJ Hooda c Rabada b Lamichhane 10 YK Pathan not out 9 M Nabi not out 17 Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 3) 11 TOTAL (18.3 Overs, RR: 7.08) 131/5 Yet to bat: Rashid Khan, B Kumar (c), Sandeep Sharma, S Kaul Fall of wickets: 1-64 (JM Bairstow, 6.5 ov), 2-68 (DA Warner, 7.6 ov), 3-95 (MK Pandey, 12.6 ov), 4-101 (V Shankar, 14.3 ov), 5-111 (DJ Hooda, 15.6 ov) BOWLING S Lamichhane (4-0-32-1) AR Patel (4-0-18-1) CH Morris (3-0-26-0) K Rabada (3.3-0-32-1) R Tewatia (3-0-10-1) I Sharma (1-0-5-1) effect of Bairstow’s walloping had been such that Sunrisers needed only 19 off 24.

Rabada ran in with steam in his last two overs, Morris changed his pace and a Yusuf Pathan edge fell short of long-on, but Nabi collected boundaries off both of them in consecutive overs and sealed the chase with a six over third man. (ESPNcricinfo)

Tottenham make world-record Sterling arranges for 550 children £113M profit despite costs of to attend FA Cup semi-final new stadium R

T

ottenham Hotspur made a world-record profit of £113 million after tax last season.

The figure tops the £106 million profit posted by Premier League rivals Liverpool earlier this year.

Yearly financial results for 2017-18 reveal Spurs’ income climbed from £310 million to £380 million thanks to player sales, bigger crowds at Wembley Stadium and reaching the Champions League knockout stages.

The figures were released as the club opened a new £1 billion stadium - though much of that cost has been met with loans.

Premier League matchday revenue more than doubled from £19 million to £42.6 million thanks to playing in front of larger crowds at Wembley while the new stadium was under construction.

Tottenham beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in their first game at the new ground.

It left the side third in the Premier League, one point in

Tottenham beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League in their first game at their new stadium

front of London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea and three points in front of Manchester United in sixth place.

The financial results show the club is still some way off competing with other top six sides financially, however.

Last season, Tottenham spent £147 million on player wages, for example - almost £100 million lower than Arsenal’s £240 million wage bill, the next lowest of the top six clubs - and about half that

of Manchester United.

The annual results filed by the club also show £116 million was spent on new players in the period, with the likes of Brazil international Lucas Moura and defender Serge Aurier both coming in from Paris St-Germain.

However, the club also made £84 million back in player sales - defender Kyle Walker’s move to Manchester City providing more than half of that.

aheem Sterling has arranged for 550 pupils from his old school to attend the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Brighton at Wembley on Saturday.

Students from the Ark Elvin Academy in London will also meet the England winger at City’s training complex in Manchester on Thursday.

Sterling, 24, was raised near Wembley after moving from Jamaica aged five.

He studied at Copland Community School, which was renamed in 2014.

Sterling, who has scored 19 goals for City this season, has made charitable donations in the past. In 2017 he made a “substantial” undisclosed contribution to the fund set up after the Grenfell Tower fire.

Saturday’s match will be City’s fourth trip to Wembley this season following the Community Shield, the Carabao Cup final and their away game against Tottenham, and the club are reportedly struggling to sell

their

full allocation of tickets.

Pep Guardiola’s side are then scheduled to play their following two fixtures in London.

They travel to Tottenham in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday (20:00 BST kick-off) before resuming their Premier League duties at Crystal Palace on Sunday, 14 April (14:05). (BBC Sport)

Raheem Sterling

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friday, APRIL 5, 2019

World Rugby gives unions more time over Nations Championship

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orld Rugby has extended its deadline further until next week, giving time for the Six Nations and Rugby Championship unions to take the concept of a Nations Championship a step further.

The unions had been given until Friday to agree to sign up to due diligence, which allows a mutual examination of books. It would not commit a union to joining the Championship, which World Rugby would like to start in 2022.

The league would involve two championships augmented by matches between countries in the two hemispheres in the summer and autumn Test windows, culminating in a final. A drawback for the Six Nations has been the issue of relegation and the threat of financial ruin it would bring.

Under World Rugby’s plan, the two championships would be

Japan would be one of the teams added to an expanded Rugby Championship along with Fiji

underpinned by second divisions made up of nations currently classified as tier two. This would give them something to aspire to, al-

though promotion would most likely be through a play-off against the team that had finished bottom.

The Rugby Championship

sides are not enthusiastic about the idea of relegation, but they would initially be insulated with Fiji and Japan joining their tournament to take the number up to six. Italy, Scotland and Ireland are set against it, but all the unions last week met representatives from Infront Sports and Media, the Swiss company that would be World Rugby’s commercial partner in the venture.

Infront has said the league would generate £5bn over 12 years.

The unions were told they would be financially better off than they are now, even if they were relegated; and while the Six Nations have spoken to four companies about aggregating their broadcast and commercial deals, they would forfeit a quarter of their profits each year in return for a lump sum up front.

The Rugby Championship unions have been more receptive

to the idea, which would put them on a more even financial footing with Europe, and help them keep their leading players at home.

“It is not quite accurate to say the south wants the league and the north doesn’t,” said Steve Tew, the chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union. “The reality is that we have a great idea, but it comes with complications that need analysis.

“We have not said yes or no to anything. Good of World Rugby for bringing a bid to the table that provides us with a reference point, and we’re going to work it through. You would fear relegation if you have a poor season when it is on the table, but if teams don’t go down, no one comes up, and you have everyone in place for ever. That’s clearly not something we all want.” (The Guardian)

Return to England could have World Cup-winning script for Windies, claims Holder

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indies skipper Jason Holder sees no reason the team should not be capable of emulating the exploits of the legendary Clive Lloyd-led 70s squad, which claimed back-toback World Cup titles.

Despite showing admirable qualities in recent months, the Holder-led Windies squad will not be among the favourites to lift the title when the tournament gets under way next month.

With the likes of talismanic batsman Chris Gayle in good form and several improving younger players, Holder believes the team could yet lift the title.

“Our boys are probably not the finished product but we’re definitely on the right path to becoming pretty good West Indian players. If we stick together for the next two

or three years, the sky’s the limit,” Holder told the Daily Mail.

“And, being in England, this was the last place we lifted the World Cup. Who knows, maybe there’s a script to be written there,” he added.

The regional team’s chances will not have been hurt by a strong showing against England in the Caribbean where they played to a 2-2 draw in the One Day International series, which came on the back of a surprise 2-1 Test series win.

Windies have match winners but need consistency for World Cup challenge – Lara West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has not ruled out a strong performance for the regional team at the upcoming ICC World Cup in England but believes the unit must find a

modicum of consistency to be successful.

The regional team earned plenty of plaudits for a strong performance in the Caribbean against England. At times, it was the inexperienced Windies that outplayed an England ODI ranked number one in the world and seven places above them.

The series featured standout performances from opening batsman Chris Gayle, captain Jason Holder and the team’s pace bowlers. If they are to mount a serious challenge in England, Lara believes they must find a way to replicate such outstanding performance on a routine basis.

“I am happy that we have made that little progress since we came here (in India) last October,” Lara said in a recent interview.

Allicock begins Pan Am qualifiers on a high note

(Sportsmax)

Premier League: Clubs increase spending to £260M on football agents in 2018-19

Alisson joined Liverpool, Riyad Mahrez signed for Manchester City and Jorginho arrived at Chelsea in big-money transfers during the 12 months covered by the latest figures

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uyana’s team of boxers who have travelled to Managua, Nicaragua to compete in the American Boxing Confederation’s (AMBC’s) Pan American qualifiers have gotten off to a flying start.

The Pan Am qualifiers, which will run until April 11, will pave the way for competition on a much larger stage, the Pan American Games.

On the first night of competition, Bantamweight pugilist Keevin Allicock began Guyana’s quest on a high note with a win over Trinidad and Tobago’s Anthony Joseph by way of unanimous decision.

Also on the Guyana team is Light welter weight boxer Colin Lewis and Middleweight boxer Desmond Amsterdam.

“The West Indies have match winners, but that’s not enough to play in English conditions and win the World Cup. We need a team that is consistent,” he added.

The West Indies will begin the tournament with a match against Pakistan on June 31st.

Keevin Allicock after his fight

remier League clubs have paid out more than £260 million to football agents during 2018-19 - an increase of £49 million on the previous 12 months.

Liverpool were the highest spending club in the top flight, paying £43 million to agents between 1 February 2018 and 31 January 2019.

Chelsea (£260 million) and Manchester City (£24 million) were the next biggest spenders.

Championship clubs spent more than £50million while Sunderland accounted for more than 50% of League One’s £5.5 million outlay.

Fees to agents went up despite spending on transfers falling by more than £500 million when compared with the previous season.

The Football Supporters’ Federation said that fans will find the spending “shocking” and called for even more transparency in how the money was spent.

A spokesman said: “Many will find the volume of money going out of the game shocking -

particularly at a time when many lower league clubs are in serious financial difficulty.

“Though supporters back the right for players to have representatives that look after their interests, they struggle to understand the justification for some of these astronomical fees seen today. Greater transparency and accountability is needed.”

Liverpool spent £27million on agents in 2017-18 to conclude deals for players including Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, and their 2018-19 expenditure covers a period in which they have invested heavily to compete for the Premier League title.

Brazil midfielder Fabinho (£39 million) arrived from Monaco, while his international team-mate Alisson cost a then world record £66.8 million fee for a goalkeeper after being signed from Roma.

The Reds also spent around £50 million on Naby Keita, and Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri joined from Stoke for a fee of £13 million. (BBC Sport)

21 GIKMAA to host Health Walk on April 7 T guyanatimesgy.com

friday, APRIL 5, 2019

he Guyana International Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy (GIKMAA) extend an open welcome to the general public to participate in their annual Health and Fitness Walk, which takes place this Sunday from the Parade Ground on Middle Street. The purpose of the walk is to raise awareness for a healthy lifestyle and well-being.

Persons participating are asked to assemble at 5:30 am, as the walk will commence at 6:00am. The route for the walk would be as follows: starting from Parade Ground onto Church Street, around Vlissengen Road, then to Lamaha Street, and return to the ground.

After the walk, there will be many forms of workouts by various groups, such as self defence displays by senior instructors. There will also be special addresses from special invitees.

In their most recent feat, the club participated in the Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Academy’s Sixth Open International Martial Arts Championships on September 23, 2018 and walked away with 36 medals – 18 golds,

12 silvers and six bronzes. In total, for the year 2018, the GIKMAA has accumulated 43 gold, 24 silver, and 9 bronze medals, along with 21 ‘hall of fame’ awards.

The GIKMAA have invited numerous talented professionals and distinguished organisations to participate in this event, as they aim to link young people with elders in an array of specialised areas in an attempt to motivate and inspire Guyanese from all walks of life to work together, encourage collaboration in the spirit of unity and social cohesion, and to raise awareness of health and well-being nationwide.

For additional information, please feel free to contact the Organizing Secretary, Ms. Maranda Benett on 675-5872, or at bennett. maranda@hotmail.com or Soke, Nazim Yassim on 662-7211, or at n_yassim@hotmail.com.

The GIKMAA look forward to the presence of many participants, as they believe that this event will help to motivate others towards a common goal.

The GIKMAA partnered with GTT and Live ProActive on the Pinktober Walk in 2018

Bakers’ Memorial Cycling Classic Race on Sunday

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or the eighth successive year, the Baker Family of Linden, Region 10, will hold their annual Bakers Memorial Classic Road Race for cyclists in the junior, juvenile and senior categories.

Set to commence on Sunday, April 7 at 9:00hrs, the race will begin at the GTT Bus Stop in Retrieve and proceed to a point on the Linden Highway, before returning to the start, covering a distance of 60 miles.

Entrance fee for each cyclist is $2,500, and this will include providing that cyclist with lunch. A number of sponsors have come on board for this event, among whom are Tony

Mohabir, Ramesh Raymond, Brian McRae, Spencers Lumber Yard, and Fresh from the West.

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elgium hold on to top spot in the latest FIFA world football rankings released Thursday while England are on the rise, snatching fourth place from World Cup finalists Croatia.

The top three positions are unchanged with World Cup winners France in second spot ahead of Brazil, in third.

England move up one place on the strength of convincing Euro 2020 qualifier wins against the Czech Republic and Montenegro last month while Croatia, who reached the 2018 World Cup final before losing to France, retreat one place to fifth.

Germany, rebuilding following their humiliating exit from the 2018 World Cup after the group phase, are also moving up.

They rise three places to 13th on the back of their victory over the Netherlands in the Euro qualifiers last month.

Austria slid 11 places, the biggest drop in the rankings, after Euro qualifier defeats by Poland and Israel in March.

FIFA rankings: 1. Belgium 2. France 3. Brazil 4.

England (+1) 5. Croatia (-1) 6. Uruguay (+1) 7. Portugal (-1) 8. Switzerland 9. Spain 10. Denmark (HST)

Cyclists prepping to take on the 60-mile trek in a previous edition

MYO Inter-Jamaat Softball Cricket Competition…

Reid, Khan produce all round brilliance

T

he highly-anticipated Inter-Jamaat Softball Cricket Competition sponsored by the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) of Guyana resumed on Sunday last at the MYO Ground on Woolford Avenue.

The thrilling 15-overper-side tournament saw Diamond/Grove Masjid defeat Tuschen Train Station Masjid by 25 runs. Both teams have faced each in the past, with Diamond having the upper hand over Tuschen; and as such, Diamond continues to dominate its opponents, causing them great unrest in their thrilling matchup.

Batting first, Diamond/ Grove Masjid, took a liking to Tuschen’s bowling attack, and sent every ball to the boundary. Despite Tuschen picking up a few wickets along the way, it wasn’t enough to stop the carnage Diamond had unleashed. In the end, Diamond managed to post 195-4 in 15 overs.

Rawle Reid scored 101 and bagged 4-27

Top scoring for the batting side were Rawle Reid, who slammed eight fours and nine sixes in his shot filled innings of 101; while Ameer Khan supported with 70 as he struck eight fours and four sixes.

Bowling for Tuschen was Adam Wajid, who bagged two wickets, as he was the

only bowler to grab wickets.

Needing 196 off 90 balls at a net run rate of 13.06 runs per over, Tuschen were staring at a mammoth total that required a slugfest of shots to get over the line. But in the end it was the Diamond Masjid players rushing the field, as Tuschen Masjid posted 168-9.

T Persaud top scored with 92, inclusive of three fours and nine towering sixes. Persaud fell to pressure despite scoring 92, as he tried to save the game, but no other player could rise to the occasion to help save Tuschen.

Bowling for Diamond were Khan and Reid, who bagged 4-27 and 2-29.

The action will continue this Sunday at the GNIC ground opposite MYO’s, as Tuschen Train Station Masjid will see off MYO, while MYO will duke it out with New Mosque and will attempt to overthrow Cornelia Ida.

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friday, APRIL 5, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

River’s View launches female team A s the developmental programmes of the Bartica Football Association (BFA) continue to gain momentum, the River’s View Football Club officially registered its female team with the Bartica Football Association.

The team, comprising mostly of females from the River’s View community, will now be part of the all female football development programmes at Bartica, including competitions.

In a practice match last Saturday against the Falmouth

Female Team, the girls from River’s View gave a good account of themselves in spite of their 2-nil loss. Nicola Braithwaite and Colleen Williams scored for Falmouth.

As of recent, Nickesha Persaud has become the youngest female football player to register with a club at Bartica. When the River’s View Female Team made its official debut last Saturday against Falmouth Female Team, nineyear-old Nickesha donned the River’s View jersey and took to the field to play alongside her mother and others that

River’s View Female Team

make up their community female team. And although her team went down 2-nil in the match, she vowed to continue playing to help develop her team.

The young player is encouraging more players of her age group to come forward and build an interest in the game. Nickesha Persaud is a fourth-grader attending the Holy Name Primary School of River’s View, Essequibo River.

Blueberry Hill win BCB 100 balls cricket tournament…

Assuria Insurance Wins for Tucber Park 5-a-side tournament

A

ssuria Fire and Life Insurance Company last Saturday staged a Five-a-Side competition in Linden, as they sought to give back after a good first year in football the mining town.

General Manager Yogindra Arjune, among the top officials who journeyed to Linden for the promotion, informed: “We have had a very good response, and because of that, we were very confident that we would do well. And that is why we want to (sponsor) events like this; and many other things we will be doing in the community, but we are very, very happy that Lindeners have really accepted us and given us good support.”

APNU/AFC Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira was also on hand when residents turned out to witness the occasion. He described the occasion as great.

“The fact that they are getting good business from Guyana and Guyanese, more particularly this community as well, I am happy that they are not only giving back in promotion of the sports that the community loves, but the fact that they would have come and invested in a branch in the community and providing opportunities for employment for our people shows a positive outlook for this company, and I am positive that the community will continue to support the services that they are providing.” Member of Parliament Figueira said.

Led by Colwyn Drakes, later named ‘Most Valuable Player’, Blueberry Hill reached the final by defeating Quiet Storm, and then winning against Amelia’s Ward Hill Foot in sudden death to earn a place in the final. They received the top prize of $50,000, while the losing finalist, Amelia’s Ward Hill Foot, received $25,000. Amelia’s Ward Hill Foot got past South Amelia’s Ward to reach the final. For placing third, Quiet Storm won $15,000, and fourth placed South Amelia’s Ward gained $10,000.

in opening round

Female football is on a resurgence at Bartica, with the recent registration of three clubs, namely Black Panthers, Falmouth and River’s View. Bartica was, at one time, a dominant force in national female competitions, and is looking to return to its former glory.

Carmel Williams, a VicePresident of the BFA and Executive Member of the GFF, is in charge of female football at Bartica.

A&B

The young Tucber Park B team

T

he Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB’s) Friends of Berbice Cricket, organised by Anil Beharry and group, bowled off on Sunday last. The boys from Tucber Park, play-

ing in two separate teams, got wins in their respective matches. Tucber Park ‘A’ defeated GUYMINE by five wickets, while Tucber Park ‘B’ humbled Rose Hall Canje by 16 runs.

Tucber Park A vs GUYMINE

Batting first at Rose Hall Canje, GUYMINE scored 94-8 in their allotted 100 balls. K Ramsaran scored 31, and Devon Clements led the way with the bat. Clements, batting at the top of the order for GUYMINE, scored 23, hitting two sixes.

Bowling for Tucber Park A, fast bowler Shamar Joseph had 3-15 in his top spell. He received support from Leon Swamy, Gevon Schultz, Winslow Roberts and Kwesi Mickle, who each had one wicket.

In reply, Tucber Park ‘B’ reached 95-5 in 13.1 overs, with Clifton Lindie leading the way with an unbeaten 52, which included three fours and two sixes. Malcolm Mickle scored an unbeaten 11 in the win

by Tucber Park A. Rose Hall Canje vs Tucber Park B In the other fixture,

Clifton Lindie and Shamar Joseph were the stars for Tucber Park A

the young guns in Tucber Park B upset the Rose Hall Canje boys in a 16-run win. Batting first, Tucber Park ‘B’ scored 117-7 in 100 balls. Blazing innings came from former Guyana U-15 player Tomani Caesar, who scored 32; while Rayon Rose scored 30 runs. Bowling for Rose Hall Canje, Ameer Rahaman and Balram Samaroo had two wickets each.

Rose Hall Canje fell short by 16 runs when

they were restricted to 101-9, with Joel Davis and Abdul Ramsammy grabbing two wickets each.

Davis had 2-31 with his upbeat right arm medium, while off-spinner and captain Ramsammy had 2-13.

For the Rose Hall Canje boys, only Balram Samaroo scored 32, while Devandra Ramkishun scored 22.

The tournament is organised for clubs in the New Amsterdam Canje area.

(Brandon Corlette)

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, APRIL 5, 2019

23

CONCACAF Nations League qualifier aftermath…

Mc Intosh sings high praises for GFF

By Jemima Holmes

I

t seems as though Guyana’s win in their final CONCACAF Nations League Qualifier match, which sealed their qualification for the Gold Cup, has done wonders for the progression of Guyanese football.

Not only does the Gold Cup win place Guyana in the same arena as football giants Mexico and the USA, but it has also opened the door for more developmental opportunities.

When the dust settled after Guyana’s 2-1 encounter with Belize, many thought of all the possibilities, but one CONCACAF and Caribbean Project Senior Manager, Howard Mc Intosh, confirmed those thoughts as he proudly praised the progression that Guyana has made.

“We’re very pleased with what has been happening in Guyana. We’re very pleased with what has been happening under the leadership of President Forde,” Mc Intosh stated as he began a lengthy assessment of the normalisation period out of which the GFF recently grew.

Mc Intosh who was present in the affairs when Guyana went through this normalisation process after many issues in the Federation, firmly believes that Guyana has successfully transitioned, and is now blossoming.

“I can say without fear of contradiction, because of my experiences, that this has been the most stable period in terms of football in Guyana; definitely in the last ten years, because that’s the period that I can speak to,” he stated.

The CONCACAF rep-

resentative asserted that CONCACAF will be willing and ready to assist the local football fraternity as long as that fraternity continues in this path. He said, “And I think the spirit I detect now should allow for continued stability, and CONCACAF is here to support it.”

Mc Intosh went on to confirm the beliefs of the Guyanese diaspora and football fans that the win on March 23 has set a new standard for the GFF. “I need to say to you that with that stability CONCACAF’s Howard Mc Intosh and GFF President Wayne Forde and with the successes, it means President’s determination to that Guyana’s International reputation better Guyana’s football inand the reputation of the frastructure.

“We’re so happy, and I Guyana Football Federation is now at a high. That am very happy to see that means the expectations from many of the discussions cenCONCACAF and the expec- tre on football, the youth tations from FIFA will be of programmes, the leagues. a high standard as well,” Mc President Forde, (in) evhe Guyana Football ery other conversation, he Intosh explained.

Federation (GFF) conIn speaking highly of wants to make sure he has tinues to make strides the national team and the artificial pitches so that the in order to take Guyana’s GFF, Mc Intosh in turn held grassroots development pro- football to a higher level. It President Forde in high re- grammes are able to take was revealed on Thursday gard, as he spoke to the place,” Mc Intosh stated. that the GFF is expecting

Genequip powers Bartica Easter Regatta 2019 A

s the momentum continues to build ahead of what is anticipated to be the biggest and best Bartica Easter Regatta ever, the new Organizing Committee, Town Council of Bartica, has been gradually attracting sponsorship to take care of its multi-milliondollar budget.

Following last week’s first press briefing, which also saw the nine contestants for the Miss Bartica Regatta pageant being introduced at the Pegasus Hotel, Genequip have taken the opportunity to present their sponsorship to His Worship, Mayor Gifford Marshall.

Making the presentation was Mr Harold Babulall, Accounts Manager of Genequip, who said the company was very pleased to be associated with the Easter spectacle, which attracts thousands of Guyanese, including hundreds from the diaspora.

“Our contribution towards Regatta is to help develop the product and make it more successful, as well as seeing it expand even more,” Babulall posited.

Mayor Marshall expressed gratitude to Babulall and Geneuip on behalf of the Bartica Town Council and the people of Bartica. “I wish to congratulate Genequip and the private sector for their continued support as we make Regatta 2019 a success,” he said. “This Regatta of course will cost millions of dollars in investment, and we’re very, very grateful for this support.”

Meanwhile, activities on the sports front are expected to get cracking at the Bartica Community Centre Ground with cricket, dominos and volleyball. Dominos would be contested at the inter-department level, with a first prize of $50,000 and a second prize of $30,000. Cricket would be played at the inter-club level, with first and second place prizes pegged at $100,000 and $50,000 respectively.

Some six teams will be facing off in the volleyball tournament; namely, Impact, Under-19 Warriors, Almanac Kings, Rough Neck, Bartica Secondary and Three Miles Secondary.

At stake are prizes for the first and second placed teams of $75,000 & trophy and $50,000 & trophy. The ‘most valuable player of the final’ would receive a trophy.

GFF to sign MoU with Denmark Football Federation

T

to sign with the Denmark Football Federation (DFF) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would result in many infrastructural developments for the GFF. The momentous occasion was initially scheduled for Thursday, but Jesper Moller, President of the Denmark Football Federation, was unable to be present owing to more pressing issues engaging his attention at the Union of European Football Association (UEFA).

Nevertheless, GFF President Wayne Forde felt it necessary to explain the nature of the Memorandum of Understanding.

“Today there was the signing of a MoU scheduled between the GFF and the Denmark Football Federation. The only reason we are not doing that signing today is because President Moller, who is also a member of the UEFA executive council, was called to an emergency meeting with UEFA. This partnership centres around every area of football development,” Forde declared.

Disclosing that despite his absence, Moller urged the GFF to submit their first projects, Forde initially revealed that the Federation will be utilising the assistance of CONCACAF representative Howard McIntosh, and will have to consult with

the Federation’s executive committee. He then went on to share some plans that the Federation has in mind.

“One category of project will be infrastructure.

We visited one of the locations that we want to do a massive grassroots development pitch at, and we are also discussing some of the specific areas of coaching education that we want to put as the first items on the partnership agenda,” Forde explained, hinting at the possibility of yet another synthetic pitch for Guyana.

Forde further explained that this recently developed partnership is one instance of Guyana creating ties with

much larger footballing nations; ties which would pave the way for Guyana’s rise.

“This is all in keeping with the broadening of our bilateral relationships with other footballing countries.

We know that Denmark is a well-developed football nation, and no doubt they have a wide array of expertise that (they) can lend to Guyana as we continue on our path of development,” he said.

Owing to the delay, the Memorandum of Understanding will now be signed at the FIFA Congress in June, which will be hosted in Paris. (Jemima Holmes)

Guyana Football Federation President, Wayne Forde

friday, APRIL 5, 2019

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

CONCACAF Nations League qualifier aftermath…

praises for GFF Page 20 CONCACAF’s Howard Mc Intosh and GFF President Wayne Forde

VIVO IPL Edition 12…

Match #17 Time: 10:30h

River’s View launches female team

Page 22

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